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BAFS Building, BPI Compound, Visayas Ave., Quezon City
22nd ASEAN Working Group on Halal Food (AWGHF) Meeting was successfully Concluded
The 22nd ASEAN Working Group on Halal Food (AWGHF) Meeting was successfully held on July 22–23, 2026 via Zoom, hosted by the Department of Agriculture–Halal Food Industry Development Program (DA-HFIDP), with the DA-BAFS serving as the Chair of the meeting.
The meeting was attended by delegates from all ASEAN Member States (AMS), including Timor-Leste, which participated as the newest AMS. The active participation of all AMS reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to strengthening cooperation on Halal food standards and initiatives.
Among the key outcomes of the meeting was the finalization of the AWGHF Plan of Action (2026–2030), which will serve as the strategic framework guiding the Working Group’s priorities and initiatives over the next five years. The Plan of Action will be endorsed to the Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) for consideration and adoption.
The meeting also continued the deliberation of the ASEAN Guidelines on Halal Food, which aim to establish a harmonized approach to Halal food across the ASEAN region. Once adopted, the Guidelines are expected to strengthen consumer confidence, facilitate regional trade, support the growth of the Halal industry, and promote greater consistency in Halal food standards and practices among AMS.
The Philippines, through the DA-HFIDP and DA-BAFS, remains committed to advancing regional collaboration and supporting the development of science-based and harmonized Halal food standards that contribute to a sustainable, competitive, and globally recognized Halal industry in ASEAN.
