Dubai to implement smart halal logos to improve traceability
The deal is part of the municipality’s plan to launch a broad smart food safety system for the emirate, which also features a smart logo that all halal items will have to carry.
Switzerland-based Sicpa’s smart track and trace technology will guarantee the authenticity of goods, as well as their conformity to certification and accreditation standards, said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.
The smart labels used for tracking functions can also be applied to a large variety of products such as packaged foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, dairy products or food supplements.
“Our food safety department has been at the forefront of efforts to adopt smart systems for a long time. Today, we have brought one of the world’s leading companies in this field on board to help us develop a unique smart food inspection and monitoring system,” Lootah said.
“We are hopeful that this system will be a turning point in our local and national smart food inspection and monitoring efforts,” he added.
The system will also allow consumers to scan items themselves to confirm their origin and relevant product information and detect potential uncertified products. The initial application phase will focus on water bottles and halal products.
“We will start with bottled water, for which we have developed an innovative solution for ensuring the safety of the water and the bottles containing them,” said Lootah.
“Through this solution we will be able to trace bottled water and monitor the safety of both the container and the contents by means of smart labelling and laser engraving.”
The method promises to enable officials to know how many times a bottle has been used and allow them to analyse different testing parameters for the water, he added.
Halal manufacturers will now have to apply for a smart logo of the UAE National Halal Mark that can be digitally read. The logo will be implemented across the emirate within the next six months.
“The project will continue to monitor halal and other food products in phases within an agreed timeframe. I am confident that this project will … serve as a model to be followed throughout UAE and the entire region,” Lootah added.
