So far 1,500 food companies have obtained halal brand license in Iran, according to the director general of the Islamic Chamber Research and Information Center (ICRIC). “At present, demand for halal food in Islamic countries amounts to $80 billion a year. We want to increase our share in the global market to at least $1 billion by the year 2025,” Mohammadreza Karbasi was quoted by IRNA as saying. Iran’s annual halal exports currently stand at a meager $5-6 million. It is estimated that in 2025, Muslims will constitute 30% of the world’s population and some 20% of the global food trade will be dedicated to halal (a symbol representing foods permissible for Muslims to eat or drink according to Islamic law) food. Under the definition proposed by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1997, halal food incorporates not only production and processing procedures, but also the manpower, transport, storage and equipment used in different stages.
