News From : DagangHalal.com (27 May 2013)
BRUNEI will be collaborating with two institutions from Japan and an American varsity on halal testing science, as the Sultanate further boosts its reputation as an international reference point for halal certification. The signing of separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on “academic exchange and research collaboration” between the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) and the Japan Food Research Laboratories, Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering and Florida State University yesterday, was aimed to give Brunei access to a network of scientists. Apart from building local capacity in halal testing through training and attachment programmes, the agreements pave way for Brunei to jointly develop methods of food and beverage analysis with each of the three institutions.
MIPR will also work together with the Florida State University on immunochemical detection of hidden blood protein in dietary products and with Osaka University, in food and ingredient testing as well as biodiversity-related studies including screening of novel bio-functional materials.
“The idea behind collaborating with these three institutions that are well known, is to enhance the credibility of our lab in Brunei,” MIPR Permanent Secretary Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PJDSM DSU (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri told The Brunei Times. “At the moment, Brunei doesn’t have the capacity and will take a while for us to grow this expertise and laboratories. But in partnership with these people, we can jump-start (the process),” she added.
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya (3rd L) attending the signing ceremony for the MoUs on ‘academic exchange and research collaboration’ in halal science yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Berakas.Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
The permanent secretary, who signed the documents for MIPR, noted that without the partnership, “It will take us years before we can achieve what we wish to do”.
The collaboration with the foreign institutions was anticipated to strengthen the capabilities of the Halal Science Centre, which is currently housed at a temporary site in Kg Anggerek Desa and brings together the expertise of the Ministry of Health, MIPR’s Department of Agriculture and Agrifood and Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
An initiative that has been mooted for years, the Halal Science Centre will focus on halal products, halal analysis and halal database to support Brunei’s national agenda of being at the forefront of scientific research and development in the area of halal science and technology.
“The new techniques developed the research activities (under the collaboration) will contribute to provide a major step in halal science and innovative product development, in rapidly changing environment and challenges,” Hjh Normah said in her remarks during the signing ceremony at MIPR.
“In the past, when you talked about halal, it’s just to do with slaughtering. But now technology is more advanced in food processing (and) manufacturing. You don’t recognise the food anymore (since it is processed),” she said in the interview.
“It’s a very advanced system. So, we have to be advanced as well, in terms of being able to understand and detect (non-halal ingredients).”
The MoUs signed yesterday were also hoped to “encourage and give confidence” to other institutions abroad that want to engage Brunei in similar partnerships, and thereby, contribute to attracting foreign direct investments into the country.
In the afternoon after the signing ceremony, representatives from the three institutions presented some of their work related to halal testing and detection.The Brunei Times
By Ubaidillah Masli
Source : mail.bruneitimes.com.bn