After forty years of service as the leading certifier in the United States, IFANCA celebrated its anniversary. A banquet was held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel for current employees, former employees, and partners. Representatives from Ecolab and Milk Specialties Global were in attendance to accept their awards for Company of the Year and Excellence in Halal Production of Dairy Products, respectively.
Representatives from Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds LLC shared a virtual acceptance speech for their Excellence in Halal Production of Retail Products award. Other winners included Symrise, which received the award for Excellence in Global Production of Flavor and Fragrances Products, and Arbonne International LLC, which received the award for Excellence in Halal Production of Nutritional Products.
A few individual awards were distributed as well. Muhammad Munir Chaudry was presented with the Board of Directors Award for his outstanding vision, dedication, and commitment to IFANCA. An award was also given to Roger Othman, former Director of Consumer Relations, for his dedicated years of service with IFANCA.
In addition to the banquet, IFANCA hosted a two-day conference on a broad range of topics related to the halal industry. Speakers came from around the globe to join fellow halal market professionals in discussing halal standards for individual countries, the future of halal, the importance of ingredient and product testing, and more.
Nabil A. Molla, Chief Executive Officer of the Nabil Molla Consulting Center and Retired Officer of the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC), presents opening remarks.
Bilge Isiklar, Accreditation Expert at the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), gives a presentation on the past, current state, and anticipated future of halal in the session “UAE Focus.”
Mary Anne Jackson, President and Founder of My Own Meals, Inc./J&M Food Products Co.; Shaikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, President of Zaytuna College; and Muhammad Munir Chaudry, President of IFANCA, discuss the topic “The Science of Halal: IFANCA’s Industry Impact.”
Bilge Isiklar gives a presentation during the panel “Multi-Country Standards: Focus Gulf Countries” next to panelists Saeed Hayek, Food Scientist and Quality Manager at IFANCA, and Nabil A. Molla. Ihsan Övüt (not pictured), Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), gave a virtual presentation.
Nur Wahid, Director of the Halal Product Division, Professional Certification Body of Majelis Ulama Indonesia; Mian Nadeem Riaz, IFANCA Professorship in Food Diversity at Texas A&M University; Mohammad Ashraf Tahir, Director General of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency; and Anat Denyingyhot, Assistant Director of the Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University, pose with their recognition awards after speaking on the panel “Food Forensics: The Role of Ingredient and Product Testing.” Muti Arintawati (not pictured), President Director of the Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (LPPOM MUI), gave a virtual presentation.
Asma Ahad, Director of Halal Market Development at IFANCA; Rafi-uddin Shikoh, CEO and Managing Partner at DinarStandard; Austin Chu, Assistant Director of Global Cause Partnerships at UNICEF USA; and Nadeem Zafar, President of Chartwells, discuss the panel “Value & Future of Halal: Addressing Security and Equity.”
Grace Tjahjono, Director of Global Relations at IFANCA, speaks on the panel “Indonesia’s Halal Policy and Regulations.” She is joined by panelists Muhammad Aqil Irham, Chairman of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH); Fertiana Santy, Coordinator for Cooperation and Partnership at the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH); and Siti Aminah, Head of the Center for Cooperation and Standardization, Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH).
Mark Overland, Director of Global Certification at Cargill USA; Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali, Director of Halal Development at Majelis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS); Acharee Suksuwan, Researcher at the Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University; Donny Purnomo Januardhi, Director for System and Harmonization Accreditation at Badan Standardisasi National (BSN) Indonesia; and Fertiana Santi pose with their recognition awards after speaking on the panel “Multi-Country Standards: Focus Asian Countries.” Faridah Hj. Hassan (not pictured), Deputy President of the World Academy of Islamic Management, University Teknologi MARA, gave a virtual presentation.
Cameron Vincent, EHS Manager at Kansas Protein Foods; Nooran Riaz, Food Scientist at IFANCA; Shaikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson; and Muhammad Munir Chaudry pose for a photo after their panel “Halal & Future Foods: Looking Towards the Role of Halal in Food Trends.” Faridah Hj. Hassan (not pictured) gave a virtual presentation.
Mark Overland; Saeed Hayek; and Mahmood Baig, Vice President and Director of Customer Service at IFANCA, pose after the panel “Creating the Global Halal Standard.”
Both the banquet and conference were a great success. Thank you to our sponsors, Abbott, Amway, the Coca-Cola Company, and Pepsico, for your continued support.
