Cotabato City, BARMM – To promote food safety, halal, and quality products, the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) successfully conducted a Food Safety and Halal Awareness Training for 21 Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Cotabato City.
Held from November 19 to 21, 2024, at the City People’s Palace, the event equipped over 100 members of the participating MSMEs with knowledge, skills, and best practices on food safety and halal standards. MOST facilitated the training to provide a substantial understanding of halal principles, identify halal certification bodies, and explain the certification process.
The event also featured discussions on the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating food products and guided participants on applying for an Electronic License to Operate (e-LTO) through the FDA website.
Present at the activity were MOST Deputy Minister Prof. Hashim Manticayan, Bangsamoro Director-General Engr. Abdulrakman Asim, Director II Nasrodin U. Buisan, Chief Science Research Specialists (SRS) Monawara Abdulbadie and Rugaya Abdullah, Secretary to the Mayor Guianodin Abdillah, and other government officials.
In his message, Deputy Minister Prof. Manticayan emphasized the importance of producing quality and safe food products. He encouraged participants to adhere to FDA regulations and apply the training learnings to their businesses.
Participants gained practical knowledge on food safety topics, including:
- Basic food safety principles.
- Sanitary and hygienic practices.
- Methods to prevent, control, and reduce hazards throughout the food handling process (purchasing, receiving, storage, preparation, production, holding, and reheating).
- Halal concepts and principles.
- Identifying halal certification bodies and understanding the certification process.
Through the Technology Application Promotion Program, MOST is committed to supporting the development and commercialization of MSMEs by ensuring that the products they produce are safe, halal, and meet quality standards. By adhering to government food standards and regulations, businesses can operate efficiently, contributing to the economic growth of the Bangsamoro region.
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