Cotabato City,  Cotabato—The Trade and Industry department of the autonomous region has turned over to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office here halal laboratory equipment that could boost local food industry in accordance with Islamic laws, officials said on Wednesday.

Myra Alih, DOST regional secretary, said the equipment could propel the economic development of the local food business and benefit the Muslim population in the region.

“This is a breakthrough development for the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is the hub of the halal industry in the country,” Alih said.

Muslims eat halal food as specified by Islamic laws. A example of non-halal food is pork, but the criteria for non-pork items include its source and, the cause of the animal’s death and how it was processed.

The halal laboratory equipment, which cost P9.8 million, could help local food business meet halal practices. At least four of seven chemists have been sent to Halal Science Center in Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to undergo training on Halal laboratory procedures and testing.

“Our edge is that, this laboratory will be run by Muslim authorities both in science and Islam, which put us at par with the rest of the world,” Alih said.

*This article by Amir S. Mawallil was published by Manila Standard Today.com. Read the original article here.