Philippines, Türkiye move to accredit 30 halal production facilities

ASIA – The Philippines and Türkiye are advancing plans to accredit 30 Philippine halal production facilities in a move aimed at expanding exports of poultry and other food products while strengthening trade between the two countries.

Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol announced the initiative during a Turkish business mission held on 27 July, where 12 Turkish poultry and meat companies met with Philippine businesses to explore commercial partnerships.

Akyol said the accreditation programme is being implemented through cooperation between the Philippine Departments of Agriculture, Science and Technology, and Trade and Industry, together with private sector partners.

The first group of facilities expected to receive halal certification will primarily produce poultry products for export to Türkiye.

According to Akyol, 30 Philippine production facilities have already submitted applications for halal accreditation and will undergo inspections before certification is granted.

Once approved, the facilities will be eligible to export halal products to Türkiye, providing Philippine manufacturers with access to the Turkish market and potential entry into wider European and Mediterranean markets.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ferdinand Ferrer said authorities are working to establish testing laboratories and certification systems to support future halal exports, with the aim of putting a concrete implementation plan in place before the end of the year.

Ferrer said the Philippines has significant export opportunities in the halal sector, although industry growth has been limited by the relatively small domestic halal industry and the cost of obtaining certification.

To strengthen business ties further, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to lead a trade delegation to Türkiye in November to attend the World Halal Conference and explore additional export opportunities.

The Philippines is also promoting halal tourism by developing clusters of halal-compliant hotels, restaurants, and related businesses in Makati, as well as selected locations in the Visayas and Mindanao, to better serve visitors from Muslim-majority countries.

Ferrer said the clustering approach aims to establish halal facilities within a one- to two-kilometre radius to improve accessibility for travellers and businesses.

Türkiye is also seeking to increase imports of premium Philippine seafood products, including shrimp, prawns and mussels, to meet growing domestic demand.

In addition, Akyol said Turkish buyers are interested in sourcing more Philippine coconut juice, coconut oil and tropical fruits such as mangoes, avocados and papayas.

Annual bilateral trade between the Philippines and Türkiye is currently valued at between US$250 million and US$300 million, with officials from both countries indicating there is considerable potential to expand commercial exchanges.

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