The Bahrain Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has signed an agreement with the GCC Accreditation Centre to strengthen cooperation in regulating halal products, exchanging technical expertise, and coordinating efforts to enhance the performance of certification and labelling bodies.
The agreement was signed in the presence of HE Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, by HE Asim Abdullatif Abdulla, Undersecretary for Agriculture and Animal Wealth Affairs, and HE Moteb bin Saeed Al Mezani, Director-General of the GCC Accreditation Centre. It also aims to support and further develop the halal infrastructure within the Kingdom of Bahrain.
HE Al Mubarak said that the agreement represents an advanced step in enhancing the halal system in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He noted that cooperation with the GCC Accreditation Centre will ensure certification efficiency, enhance the competitiveness of Bahraini products in GCC and international markets, and meet halal framework requirements, particularly for red and white meat imports.
The minister added that the agreement will open new markets for imports and exports, reinforce Bahrain’s role as a hub for re-exporting halal products, and support local industry, boosting the Kingdom’s standing on the global economic and trade map. He emphasized that the ministry is committed to strategic partnerships with specialized centers to align with global developments and ensure compliance with national, GCC and international standards.
HE Asim Abdullatif Abdulla pointed out that the agreement covers knowledge sharing to establish the halal system in the Kingdom of Bahrain in line with international practices, technical collaboration to accredit competent bodies before operations, and organizing activities and training programs to raise awareness and build national technical capacities.
He added that the agreement provides for exchanging information on national requirements, issuing internationally recognized technical reports, delivering specialized training to qualify staff as accredited technical assessors, and supporting the registration of conformity assessment bodies, while remaining open to further areas of cooperation to consolidate Bahrain’s position in this domain.
Moteb bin Saeed Al Mezani underlined the importance of the GCC Accreditation Centre’s partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He said the agreement will expand cooperation and knowledge exchange in accreditation and quality, advancing strategic objectives in line with international practices.
The Director-General noted that the agreement will develop Bahrain’s halal framework by ensuring certification and labelling efficiency in accordance with national, GCC and international standards, enhancing consumer confidence in imported red and white meat and local products, and aligning them with global best practices.
