With an estimated population of 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide and growing, the fast-expanding halal sector offers a great opportunity for SMEs that are looking to enter a lucrative market.

WHAT IS HALAL?
In the Quran, the holy book and guide for all Muslims, there exists verses that call for Muslims to seek provisions that are ‘halalan toyibban’. The English equivalent for this phrase would mean lawful and wholesome. Therefore, halal is actually about everything from the food we consume to the businesses we conduct to the transactions we perform in our daily lives. It is the responsibility of a Muslim to ensure that what he practices and consumes is clean, hygienic and not detrimental to either his health or his well-being. Halal is an all encompassing concept which encourages a Muslim to seek and use products, ventures and services that promote cleanliness in all aspects – that a product or service is safe for consumption, produced in a clean environment and health. Halal is the next benchmark for quality. (Source: www.halal.com.my)