The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has instructed halal certificate holders to immediately stop using and importing meat from an Australian abattoir, after it’s “halal integrity of meat has been compromised”.
The Head of halal supply network Sharifuddin Mohamed Ali said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (31 May) that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has instructed its halal certificate holders to immediately cease the use and import of meat products from an overseas abattoir, Thomas Foods International Lobethal (TFIL), as it has found reasonable grounds to conclude that the halal integrity of meat from TFIL’s abattoir has been compromised.
Our decision is based on established facts and inputs from competent authorities, after conducting investigations with various parties involved, he added.
Muis is also in communication with certificate holders who have been importing meat from TFIL to obtain alternative halal-compliant sources.
This will ensure our supply of halal food is not impacted. We thank the community for their concern in this matter.
Muis is highly committed to maintaining the integrity of the supply of halal food to the Singapore Muslim community, and will continue to provide updates and advice to the community in this respect. May Allah ease all our affairs, said Mr Sharifuddin Mohamed Ali Head, Halal Supply Network, Muis.
Earlier, MUIS had urged the community not to speculate or spread unverified information regarding the matter while the investigations are ongoing.
The response by Muis Head came out after two weeks of its previous statement that it was checking on allegations against TFIL, following the suspension by Malaysian authorities of the company’s slaughtering approval after it had reportedly breached slaughtering standard operating procedures, food safety, and halal requirements.
Muis said then that it was working with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to ascertain relevant information on the abattoir from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment.
Imports from TFIL, which is accredited by SFA to export meat to Singapore, had met food safety requirements.
Slaughtered and processed meat from TFIL is certified halal by the Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meat in Australia (SICHMA), Muis added.
If investigations were to establish that there were serious lapses by SICHMA, Muis said it may decide not to renew SICHMA’s application to be a recognised foreign halal certification body.
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