Halal Quality Certification Agency: Misuse of the trademark on a pork product of the company Meso-promet

(Patria) - The Halal Quality Certification Agency today warned the public that the halal quality trademark has been misused on a product of the company Meso-promet d.o.o. Bijelo Polje.

"We received information from a consumer that they noticed this product marked with the halal quality trademark in retail outlets in Podgorica. We immediately contacted the company Meso-promet d.o.o. to obtain information about the mentioned case, and to verify the truthfulness of the claims that the halal quality mark is on haram products and that, if the claims are confirmed, they immediately take measures to withdraw the products from retail outlets. We received information from the company that the product was in retail outlets in Montenegro and was immediately withdrawn from sale," the Agency announced on this occasion.

The press release reminds that the Agency performs halal certification in accordance with the Halal Certification Procedure, which is harmonized with international standards.

"The halal certification process covers slaughtering and processing plants for beef, chicken, and turkey meat, which are physically separated from plants for haram products. For products that comply with the requirements of the halal standard, the Agency has issued a Halal certificate and approved a List of Halal Certified Products to which the Halal mark may be applied. The list of halal certified products can be checked on the Agency's website (https://bazar.halal.ba/details/77)," the statement said. In accordance with the stated facts, as explained, it is evident that the Agency has not halal certified the disputed product nor issued approval for the use of the halal quality mark.

"A product that contains even the smallest amount of pork cannot be halal certified. In this specific case, it is a major oversight and error by the company, during which a haram product was marked with the halal quality mark. In accordance with our Procedure, the Agency has issued an urgent order for an on-site audit, where authorized auditors will determine the facts that led to the misuse of the Agency's halal mark.

Based on the audit results, appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with the Halal Quality Certification Agreement and the Halal Certification Procedure, and the public will be informed about it," the statement said.

It is also reminded that the Halal Quality Certification Agency, in order to prevent trademark misuse, has protected it with the Institute for Intellectual Property of BiH and internationally with the WIPO Institute in Geneva.