A Halal Food Era Begins in Public Institutions
A halal-food era begins in public institutions. The latest collective agreement for civil servants introduces, for the first time in Turkey, a halal-food requirement in public institutions. The scope covers a wide product range. HALAL certificates are available across many product categories, from meat products to water. The condition for a halal product is that it complies with Islamic jurisprudence.
A halal-food era begins in public institutions. The collective agreement signed with the government covers salary increases, entitlement to Hajj leave, and, for the first time, a provision encouraging the use of HALAL-certified foods in public institutions and agencies. Halal food is defined as food permitted under Islamic rules. In HALAL certificates issued by certification bodies such as Sistem Patent Kalite, the product and its packaging are assessed against Islamic requirements. The rules cover compliance with Islamic jurisprudence, avoiding "unclean" production, not using packaging materials, additives, or labelling inconsistent with Islamic rules, producing halal products in line with Islamic requirements, and following religious rules in product advertising. Halal-food companies also pay attention to matters such as halal slaughter, pork, and GMOs. Businesses providing product flow are likewise considered.
During the collective-bargaining phase, the requirement that HALAL-certified products be used in meals served at public institutions came onto the agenda, with the state taking the first step on halal food. Civil servants said: we want halal food to be certified and guaranteed.
