The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) clarified on Wednesday, April 19, the role of the agency, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in the accreditation of halal products.
Datu Ras Lidasan Jr., the NCMF commissioner, explained that the agency only accredits local halal certifiers, while the Department of Trade and Industry has jurisdiction over exported goods.
"Hindi NCMF ang nag-certify ng halal," Lidasan said during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
Lidasan further revealed that the NCMF seeks the passage of a law that penalizes erring halal certifiers.
"Sa ngayon wala pang mabigat na batas ukol sa mga halal certifier na hindi sumusunod sa National Commission on Muslim Filipinos," Lidasan said.
"Nakipag-coordinate na rin pala ang National Commission on Muslim Filipinos sa Congress upang pag-aralan at makagawa ng batas ukol dito," he added.
The move came after NCMF warned the Muslim community from consuming halal-certified products made by CDO Foodsphere due to pork contamination.
These products include CDO Chicken Franks, Holiday Chicken Hotdog, CDO Ulam Burger, CDO Crispy Chicken Burger, and CDO Chicken Flakes.
Lidasan stressed that NCMF did not accredit the halal certifier of the said products.
"Ito ay masasabi ko na napakasakit na pangyayari sa aming mga Muslim. Alam naman natin na ipinagbabawal talaga yung pagkain ng hindi halal," the NCMF executive stressed.
"Unfortunately, hindi pa sakop kasi ng NCMF ang mga halal certifier na hindi dumaan sa aming opisina," he added.
