Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Halal food is the largest and most diverse sector in the Muslim economy
2025-05-15
“HalalThe term "permitted" refers to what is permitted, and in the case of food, this involves slaughtering and processing animals in a specific way. Additionally, the product should not contain pork or alcohol. You might thinkHalalFood is just a set of rules about food, but the worldHalalThe industry incorporates everything from food to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
According to Thomson Reuters GlobalHalalEconomic report, to2022Muslims will spend more than1.9trillion dollars.
The expansion of the industry has led to numerousHalalStart-ups are emerging, ranging from baby food and confectionery to ready meals.
standardization
Despite this expansion, there is a lack of internationalHalalFood standards and harmonized certification rules are threatening the industry's growth.
Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre) and Thomson Reuters (Thomson ReutersA report published byHalalfood rankings, the UAE has made significant strides towards becoming a reference point for global regulation.
The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is an agency responsible for all standards related to health, safety and consumer protection and has certified approximately200UAE companies and7000VariousHalalproduct.
Director-General His Excellency Abdullah Mahene said the programme is based on international standards and is the first of its kind in the world.
Its purpose is to provide transparency and reliability, while aiming to improve the industry's position in the international market, thereby benefiting producers around the world.
“Once we have standards, then they (food manufacturers) can produce commercial quantities because they will have more people and markets that will accept the same product,”Al-MaeeniExplained.