Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Re: Halal Issues

The below mentioned is in response to an article that appeared in “The South Asian Voice (Pakeeza International) ” dated March 11, 2009 written by Iqra Khalid of Mississauga (the article can be viewed <here>).
The Halal Monitoring Authority (HMA) thanks Iqra Khalid for bringing the awareness of Halal to the general public by means of the article. However, we would like to point out the following:

Fair Journalism

The author, Iqra Khalid failed to adhere to the ‘Journalistic Standards and Practices’ by simply taking one side of the story without contacting the HMA for clarifications on assumptions and rumors. We encourage Iqra Khalid to contact the HMA for any concerns that she would like to present to the community regarding HMA, by having all the accurate facts before her.

What Is Considered Extreme?

The article points out that the HMA standards for halal are extreme. We would like to notify her that the HMA standards are to ensure the best and highest quality of halal. The government health and safety inspectors are physically present during the slaughter of each and every animal. Shall we now consider the government inspectors to be extreme? If it is only a matter of “trust” why do the government health and safety (CFIA & OMAFRA) inspectors have to be present for every slaughter across Canada.
The HMA is unlike any other halal certification agency, where slaughter plants are issued certificates in exchange of money with inspections being carried out merely once in six months or once in a year.
The HMA just like the government, has its inspectors physically present during the slaughter of every animal to ensure all animals are slaughtered according to halal guidelines.

Is It really Division? Who Is Really Dividing?

The article failed to point out that there are numerous halal certifying agencies in Canada who all are certifying halal consumables according to their respective guidelines and standards. Hereunder are the names of some of the many certifying bodies of Canadian halal products:
• IFANCA – Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
• BCMA Halal Certification – British Columbia Muslim Association
• MCM Halal Certification- Muslim Council of Montreal
• AMCVH – Quebec Halal Certification
• MCG – Muslim Consumer Group Halal Certification
• HCA / ISNA – Islamic Society of North America
• And many others ….

The HMA considers the above organizations and their services to be of benefit not a means of division. You will also certainly find many certification boards for Kosher, organic foods etc. Now is this really division?

The article states that the HMA is creating division by not approving the machine slaughter. The HMA would like to point out that all Muslims across the GTA and beyond were only accepting hand slaughtered meats ever since Muslims have been in Canada. It was the organization that Iqra Khalid pointed out, which was the first to ever approve machine slaughtered meats in Canada, which majority Muslims do not accept. Now tell us who started the division?

Machine Slaughter

We do recognize that a limited number of scholars have permitted the machine slaughter, however there are several conditions for its permissibility, such as the Quranic injunction of “Tasmiyah” to be recited on each and every animal. “So eat of that (meat) upon which Allah's name has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses” (Holy Quran 6:118). “And do not eat that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed it is a grave disobedience”. (Holy Quran 6:121)

This Quranic injunction is impossible to implement with the machine slaughter procedure of hundreds of chickens per minute.

Hand slaughtered chickens is possible with even hundreds of birds being slaughtered per minute by having numerous slaughter men on the line of slaughter, as is currently being practiced at some HMA approved facilities. It is inaccurate to state that hand slaughter in mass production is impossible.

Technology

There is no question of using technology. Islam allows everyone to use technology. However the limit is to adhere to Allah’s commands and teachings of our noble Prophet (pbuh). In this present age of technology, would one permit a personal robot to offer salah on your behalf? Is this not technology?

HMA Standards

HMA is a quality assurance Canadian registered agency that works closely with the government to monitor and certify halal. Our standards are such that are acceptable to all schools of thought and Muslim groups. For example everyone may not accept machine slaughter but everyone does accept hand slaughter. We leave it up to the consumer as to which certifying standards they wish to accept. We have sufficient approved slaughter plants and suppliers that can easily meet the demands of the GTA Muslim public and beyond.  

Bruno’s Meat Supplier and Sargent Farms

The article refers to the statements of Bruno’s Meat Supplier.
The HMA would like to point out that the HMA has never approved any of the supplies and meats of Bruno’s Meat Supplier. How would our inspector have ever been present in Bruno’s Meat facility. Besides, we would question what would Bruno know about the intricate details of HMA standards when Bruno’s Meat supplier has never been approved by the HMA?
HMA inspectors are fully trained and experienced in enforcing HMA standards at approved facilities with HMA supervision. Once again we would like to point out that we are unlike all other certifiers who simply issue certificates in exchange of money without physical presence during slaughter and processing.

Sargent Farms is not an HMA approved supplier, however, production and slaughtered chickens of certain shifts at Sargent Farms are HMA approved through our approved suppliers who use the Sargent Farms facility for slaughter with the presence of our HMA inspectors during those shifts.

We request Iqra Khalid, Pakeeza International, and the general public to directly contact us for any concerns or questions regarding HMA. They may also visit our website for further information: www.hmacanada.org.

View the Press Release and the Article in PDF: click here