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Tapping Into the Vast Halal Market of Hong Kong
The melting pot of diversity of Asia is none other than Hong Kong. Though on the onset, it may look like Hong Kong is a host to a single culture. Historically, Hong Kong benefits from various traders setting up shop in the jurisdiction. Thus, it gives rise to a plethora of cuisine influences. It is currently home to many modern foreign investors seeking ease of doing business. Hence, Hong Kong, as a global hub, is attracting more foreign investors to its food and beverage industry. It includes the Halal market. The Halal market in Hong Kong has plenty of room to grow. If you are eager to invest, you may start getting into halal certifying restaurants in Hong Kong.
Benefits of Halal
Halal, means lawful and permissible. In terms of food and beverage consumptions, Muslims must seek halal foods to ensure they comply with their belief. The average person naturally associates Halal foods with Muslims consuming Middle Eastern cuisine. Halal food can be food from anywhere in the world as there are Muslims everywhere. The benefits of Halal food is that the standard procedures from procuring the ingredients to logistics, storage, handling and cooking must be pure and clean. Halal certifying restaurants in Hong Kong include these matters. There should not be any cross-contamination of raw ingredients and dry ingredients. Thus, in a nutshell, many perceive that Halal is a healthy option for food and beverage consumption.
Hong Kong Halal Certification
The authority figure that issues Halal certification in the jurisdiction is The Incorporated Trustees Of The Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. They are also known as BOT (Board of Trustees). Before we get into the details of Halal certifying your restaurant in Hong Kong, applicants must know the pre-conditions to the certification process. Do take note that once you have successfully received the Halal certificate, it is usually valid between one to two years. But there are instances where the BOT will stipulate a specific duration of validity. The Halal certification is valid for the set period and place of business conduct. You can display only the valid original certificate at a prominent space within the premise. Once you have received the Halal certification, there will be surprise premise checks conducted by the BOT. Such inspections are part of its policy, and the client must allow and facilitate the assessments. Should they find the restaurant non-compliance during surprise inspections, they can immediately render your Halal certificate as invalid.
While you take pride in your restaurant affairs, the BOT is very strict with their Halal standards.
Hence, now you should be ready to get on with Halal certifying restaurants in Hong Kong.
- Incorporate a company to get things organised.
- Get a restaurant business license.
- The restaurant should be in operation when applying for a Halal certificate.
- Seek and deal with Halal ingredients supplier.
- Fill up form HC-1 (which you can find at the Islamic Trust Hong Kong website)
- Enclose supporting documents as required.
- If the BOT finds your application complete, the authority will arrange for a site inspection and quote a fee for such services.
- After rendering the assessment, and finds it compliant, you will receive the Halal certificate.
- Upon renewal of the certificate, the BOT will request a return of the expired certificate.
