Norwegian chicken producer Norsk Kylling has received halal certification from the Islamic Council of Norway. The production of halal chicken will be separated from the company’s regular operations and is expected to start soon.
The initiative is aimed at Norway’s still growing Muslim population, while at the same time raising criticism and questions about the adaptation of Norwegian food production to religious requirements.
Norsk Kylling has been working for almost two years to obtain halal certification. Production will take place on a separate production line to ensure that all requirements are met according to the standards of the Islamic Council of Norway, according to an official press release.
Hilde Talseth, CEO of Norsk Kylling, sees the move as an opportunity to expand the company’s product range and reach a wider customer base.
– As a major player in the Norwegian chicken market, our goal is to make chicken with better animal welfare available to more people. Now that we are certified to expand with our own halal production, we can also offer ECC certified chicken to a larger part of the population, says Talseth.
“An important market group”
As the halal chicken will be produced separately, Norsk Kylling’s management says that the company’s supplies to its other customers will not be affected. The initial product range for halal production will consist of whole chickens, which will then be sold to subcontractors who will process and package them for final consumption.
The market for halal chicken is estimated by Norsk Kylling to be between 3,000 and 4,000 tons per year. Talseth says the company is now working on developing its own brand of halal chicken, which may include processed products.
She sees the Muslim population as an important market group and cites the company’s distribution network as a strength.
– If we can establish halal as a separate and distinct brand within REMA 1000, we will strengthen the halal offering across the country, she says.
Islamic Council welcomes the decision
According to the Islamic Council of Norway, there is a great demand for halal-certified chicken, but the supply in the Norwegian food landscape has so far been limited.
The market for halal products in Norway is estimated at between 250,000 and 300,000 potential consumers, according to the Islamic Council of Norway, and the Chairman of the Islamic Council of Norway, Masoom Zubair, sees Norsk Kylling’s halal production as an important step towards meeting this demand.
– Norsk Kylling is taking its supply responsibility in an exemplary way by offering products that appeal to a wider range of consumers.
However, Halal certification has not been without its problems and has also been the subject of criticism. The process has been both long and extensive, with requirements placed on both the slaughtering and processing of the chicken to meet supposed halal standards.
At the same time, both Norsk Kylling and the Islamic Council of Norway emphasize that “strict animal welfare and quality remain unchanged”.
