Malaysia to Export Halal Food to Japan

BERA: Japan will be the latest country to import Malaysian halal food products, which are known for their freshness and hygiene.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the products were not only for Muslims in the country, but also the mass market.

He said Chiba had been identified as the main entry point for the food products.

The products, he said, would be distributed and marketed in more than 1,800 Aeon hypermarkets throughout Japan, starting from as early as next year.

“It is timely for Japan to start importing halal food as an early preparation to host the Olympic Games in 2020, when thousands of Muslim tourists and sportsmen will be in the country.”

Ismail Sabri said this after presenting certificates and machines to 343 agro-entrepreneurs in the parliamentary constituency here yesterday.

He added that a joint committee between the two countries would be set up to ensure that the food products exported to Japan were clean, fresh and halal.

To date, he said, a large volume of halal food products from Malaysia was already exported to many countries, including China, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.