Copyright farmersweekly
Reading Time: < 1 minute Steps by the government to reduce non-tariff barriers facing halal-certified exports to Malaysia have been welcomed by the meat sector. Halal processing is a cornerstone of the New Zealand meat industry’s business model and smoothing the pathway for halal certified red meat products will strengthen long-standing relationship with Malaysia and will help unlock new export opportunities, Meat Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said. “New Zealand has been exporting halal-certified meat for nearly 50 years. Halal processing allows our industry to export red meat to Muslim countries and consumers around the world and find the best market for each part of the carcase. “While there are still steps to formalise the arrangement, it has the potential to bring significant opportunities for our red meat exports in a market of 35 million people. “Arrangements such as this foster mutual understanding of each other’s regulatory systems and deepening relationships.” New Zealand exported halal certified products to 63 countries worldwide last year, accounting for $2.9 billion of export revenue. Halal-certified exports from New Zealand to Malaysia were worth $65 million, increasing to $79m in the year ending September 30 2025, she said. “While Malaysia is currently a relatively small market for halal-certified meat, it is a very important one for the New Zealand meat industry as Malaysia is a global halal standards setter.”
