COTABATO CITY — Member of Parliament Engr. Baintan Ampatuan has raised the need to require Muslim restaurants and food establishments in the Bangsamoro region to secure halal certification.

“Halal certification gives assurance to the consumers that the food products are produced according to Shariah Law, and that they are clean, hygienic, environmentally friendly, and respect animal welfare,” said MP Ampatuan as the proposed bill was filed today, June 16, in the plenary.

Obtaining a halal certification, according to MP Ampatuan, will safeguard the health and well-being of BARMM constituents, as halal food is now a growing business industry in the region, especially in the urban centers.

Under BTA Bill No. 189, or the Halal Food Certification Act of 2022, the Bangsamoro Government will require every Muslim restaurant and eatery business in the region to be halal food-certified by any accredited halal-certification body before January of every year ends.

Accredited halal-certification bodies refer to those that are recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Accreditation Bureau (DTI- PAB) such as: Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, Halal Development Institute of the Philippines, Mindanao Halal Authority, Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the Philippines, Islamic Advocate on Halal and Development, Philippine Ulama Congress Organization, Alliance for Halal Integrity in the Philippines, and Prime Certification and Inspection Asia Pacific.

In the proposed measure, a passed or failed certification will be valid for one year.

It prohibits the posting of halal passed certification and false representation of any product to be halal without the required certification and will result in the cancellation of their business permits.

The proposed measure also requires the Bangsamoro government to adopt measures that will promote halal food and related products; prohibit misrepresentation and false claims in the preparation and sale of halal food products; and provide adequate remedies and means of redress for aggrieved halal consumers.

It also enumerates the guidelines for preparing, handling, storing, and verifying halal products.

Co-authors of the proposed bill are Atty. Laisa Alamia, Amir Mawallil, Atty. (Diazepam) Suharto Ambolodto, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., Engr. Don Loong, and Rasul Ismael. (LTAIS- Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)