Market Information
Southeast Asia

Halal Meat Study
Brunei Darussalam

Canadian High Commission Brunei
2006

OVERVIEW

Brunei is a small country with an area the size of Prince Edward Island and a population of about 370,000. The population is predominantly Malay and a minority of Chinese as well as other racial groups. The Islamic faith is devoutly held in Brunei, hence, the religious requirements regarding the slaughter and consumption of halal meat are extremely important. To ensure the supply of fresh halal meat (beef), in 1987, the Brunei Government has acquired Scott Creek/Willeroo Station covering 5,986 sq. kilometres in Northern Territory, Australia. About 33,000 heads of Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle run on these stations. These cattle are later imported live from the stations for slaughter in Brunei - this is to ensure that the cattle is slaughtered according to the strict Islamic religious requirements.

Apart from the cattle stock in Northern Territory, Brunei also produces about 1,200 head of cattle for the market annually. This comprises of about 6% of its own beef consumption. The Government assists local stock farmers with calves, machinery, feed, seedling, fertilizers and veterinary care. Research has been carried out to ascertain the best possible way to increase the local cattle population. The Agriculture Department has launched a research project covering 6,874 hectares in the Tutong District designated for the livestock production industry. The farm's main aim will be to assess local and imported stock towards producing highbred cattle for commercial purposes.

According to official figures, there are 115 poultry farmers in the country. Brunei consumed 16.5 metric tons of chicken in 2005, of which, 93.5% is bred locally and the rest is imported from neighbouring countries.

Source : Department of Agriculture, Brunei Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources

DEFINITIONS OF HALAL, HARAM AND MUSBOOH

The Quran has numerous rules instructing Muslims to choose and consume wholesome foodstuffs. In the selection of food and drink, Islam has laid down three very important guidelines:

1. Whether the consumption of the foodstuff is prohibited by Allah.
2. Whether the foodstuff is obtained through 'halal' or 'haram' means.
3. Whether or not the material is harmful to health.

HALAL

Halal is a Quranic term which means 'permitted, allowed, authorised, approved, sanctioned or lawful'. Halal foods and drinks are permitted for consumption by Allah - the Supreme law giver. In Brunei, approval is given by the Halal Authority (Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs) through The Board For Issuing Halal Import Permits for products that satisfy the halal requirements.

Islam has introduced the concept of slaughter, whereby an animal would have to be properly slaughtered to be considered halal. The act of slaughtering is to ensure the quality of meat and to avoid any microbial contamination. For example, a dead but unslaughtered animal is normally associated with disease. Most disease originate from animal's blood, therefore, slaughtering is mandatory to ensure that complete drainage of blood from the animal's body - thus, minimizing the chance of microbial infection. This is compatible with the overall concept of cleanliness that is always emphasised in Islam.

HARAM

Haram is a Quranic term which means 'prohibited or unlawlful'. Haram foods and drinks are absolutely prohibited by Allah, hence, forbidden for every Muslim.

All foods are considered Halal except the following :

• Swine/pork/dog and its by-products;
• Alcohol and intoxicants;
• Blood and blood by-products;
• Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears;
• Amphibious animals such as frogs, crocodiles and turtles;
• Animals improperly slaughtered or dead before slaughtering;
• Food contaminated with any of the above products (The Halal ingredients must not be mixed, or even come into contact with Haram materials, such as products from pig or dog, during storage, transport, cooking, serving, etc.;
• Foods containing ingredients such as gelatin, enzymes, emulsifiers, etc. are Musbooh or questionable.

MUSBOOH

Musbooh is an Arabic term which means 'suspected'. If one does not know the Halal or Haram status of a particular food or drink, such a food or drink is doubtful. A practising Muslim would prevent himself from consuming doubtful things such as stimulants, depressants, smoking, on Fridays etc...

A GUIDE TO EXPORTING MEAT TO BRUNEI

Any person with the intention to export meat to Brunei will have to produce a Slaughtering Certificate issued by the Director of Syariah, of the Brunei Ministry of Religious Affairs. The person importing the meat shall have to apply for a 'Halal Import Permit' from the Controller of Customs under the Board for Issuing Import Permits.

Whenever any halal meat is imported, authorised officers from the Ministry of Health and the Agriculture department will examine it and certify it fit for human consumption. The Inspection Committee shall ensure that meat must only be imported from countries where animals are free from dangerous and contagious diseases and where only local animals are slaughtered. Lastly, the importers and local suppliers of halal meat must be Muslims.

GUIDELINES FOR HALAL SLAUGHTER

To obtain a Slaughtering Certificate one shall apply to the Director of Syariah Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs. An Inspection Committee shall ensure that:

• the slaughtering centre must be under close and constant supervision of a Halal Certifier.
• the slaughterers must be mature and pious Muslim of sound mind who understands fully the fundamentals and conditions relating to Halal slaughter.
• for a foreign slaughtering centre, the slaughterers must be Muslims duly authorised by the law of that country to slaughter animals according to the Syariah Law.
• the animals must be alive in normal condition when slaughtered.
• the premises, machinery and equipment must be cleansed according to the Syariah Law.
• all slaughtering devices must be of good quality and sharp and they must not be made from bones, fingernails, toenails or teeth.
• facilities must be available for rinsing the knife after each slaughter.
• when slaughtering, the respiratory tract ('halqum') and the channel for taking in food and water ('mari') must be cut off according to the Syariah Law.
• the phrase 'In the name of Allah' (Bismillah) must be called forth during slaughtering of the animal.
• if stunning is used during the slaughtering process, these procedures must be followed:
  (a) stunning will result in the animal being temporarily unconscious
  (b) the stunner is of a type which cannot penetrate or break the animal's head
  (c) it must not cause permanent brain damage or give rise to death or physical disability to the animal.
• the animal must be completely dead before skinning takes place.
• Muslim workers must be present at the time of removal and separation of the organs of the slaughtered animals.
• the halal meat shall be kept separately from non-halal meat at all times, in every slaughtering centre, place for storage, packing, during transportation, importation and during sale.

After being satisfied that the applicant is capable of slaughtering animals according to the Syariah Law, the Director of Syariah Affairs will issue a Slaughtering Certificate. All the expenses incurred on the inspection of the slaughtering centre by the Inspection Committee shall be borne by the slaughtering centre/importer. The Inspection Committee shall have power to inspect any slaughtering centre approved by the Board at any time and the slaughtering centre concerned shall provide the access and facilities required for such inspection.

The Slaughtering Certificate can be applied from :

Religious Council
Department of Syariah Affairs
Ministry of Religious Affairs
Jalan Elizabeth II
Bandar Seri Begawan BS8610
Brunei Darusalam
Tel : 673 2242565
Fax : 673 2243001

The fee for a Slaughtering Certificate is B$10.00 (C$8.70) and is valid for one year.

Should Canadian exporters be interested in this market, the Canadian High Commission would gladly provide further assistance.

LIST OF APPROVED MEAT IMPORTERS AND SLAUGHTER HOUSES