IFRC as 3rd Party IQAB Appointed by USO.

Posted on July 1, 2025

IFRC has recently been appointed by the Universal Standard Organization (USO) as the 3rd party Independent Quality Assurance Body (IQAB). In this role, IFRC is responsible for inspecting and validating organizations from the Halal International Country (HIC) Community that seek to comply with the Muslim Friendly Halal Excellence (MuFHE) Ecosystem’s Global Halal Assurance Protocol (GHAP-2020). Upon completion of each inspection, IFRC provides a formal validation report along with its recommendations. 

As part of this responsibility, IFRC has assigned, one of its auditor, Mr. Wan Mohd Azmir to conduct consultations and inspections at the following facilities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen from 23rd until 24th June 2025; KLN Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited,  International Gourmet Foods Limited and Shenzhen Maya Cosmetic Co., Ltd. This engagement marks a significant step for IFRC in upholding global halal standards and reinforcing its commitment to quality and compliance.

World Halal Council (WHC) Executive Committee For The Year 2024-2026

Posted on November 12, 2024

During the WHC 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), an election was conducted for the Executive Committee of the WHC for the year 2024-2026. IFRC Would like to congratulate the newly elected office bearers ans especially to our very own Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sister Naili Fahim for being elected as the new WHC Treasurer.

The newly elected Executive Committee of the WHC are as follows:

• President: Sheikh Thafier Najjaar (ICSA, S. Africa)
• Vice President: Zafer Gedikli (GIMDES, Turkiye)
• Secretary General: Abdul Rahman Linzag (IDCP, Phillippines)
• Assistant Secretary General: Moulana M. Saeed Navlakhi (SANHA, S. Africa)
• Treasurer: Naili Hastika Abdullah Fahim (IFRC HK)
• Assistant Treasurer: Nadia El-Mouelhy (HCAA, Australia)
• Head of Shariah Committee: Omar Subedar (HMA, Canada)
• Head of Membership Committee: Habib Ghanim (ISWA, USA)
• Head of Technical Committee: Mahmoud Tatari (Halal Control, Germany)

Bahtera Lagenda Sdn. Bhd. Successfully Renew The License of HRD Corp Registered Training Provider

Posted on March 11, 2024

Bahtera Lagenda Sdn. Bhd. has been successfully renew its license as a "HRD Corp Registered Training Provider". BLSB was registered as HRD Corp Registered Training Provider since March 2023.

IFRC Officially Recognised by BPJPH, Indonesia

Posted on February 27, 2024

Islamic Food Research Centre Co., Ltd. (IFRC) is now officially recognised by Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH)) starting February 19, 2024. 

You may refer to the BPJPH website at https://bpjph.halal.go.id/search/data_lhln for reference.

On-site Assessment by BPJPH Assessment Team

Posted on December 4, 2023

On-site assessment by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency/ Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) Assessment Team at IFRC HK Office in Shenzhen, China on 24 -28 September 2023 for the mutual recognition and accreditation of halal certified products to enter Indonesian market.

Alhamdulillah the assessment went smoothly and successfully.

IFRC-HK Celebrate It's 20th Anniversary

  Posted on August 9, 2022

A humble beginning with the truest purpose of carrying out Fardhu Kifayah (Islamic obligation) in order to serve the Muslim Ummah, Islamic Food Research Centre (IFRC) was founded in 2002 in Malaysia under the company name Bahtera Lagenda Sdn. Bhd. (BLSB) by Tuan Haji Abdullah Fahim, a former Research & Halal Director of JAKIM. It was the pioneering consulting company for halal certification for the local religious departments of Malaysia namely JAIS (Selangor), JAIP (Perak), JAIJ (Johor) and JAIPP (Pulau Pinang). It then made its way to become the first fully private halal certification body (HCB) in Malaysia under the name IFRC certifying products throughout the country before expanding to overseas mainly China. At this point halal certification in the country was booming. Soon enough it reached the global market ultimately putting halal certification and logo on the map.

In 2009, IFRC was registered in Hong Kong to meet the increasing demand in Hong Kong and China which offered the prospects to make more halal products available for Muslims in the region and additionally helped provide more job opportunities to the local Chinese Muslim community. Currently IFRC has 700 clients globally and has hired 42 employees; experts, auditors and consultants with exceptional qualifications from different ethnicities and backgrounds. IFRC is one of the earliest members of World Halal Council (WHC) since 2008 and is recognized by its 29 members worldwide namely in the Philippines, Turkey, South Africa, USA, UK, Germany etc. IFRC is the official WHC Secretariat in Malaysia that hosts its Executive Committee Meeting in Kuala Lumpur yearly. Additionally IFRC is also recognized by the Islamic Cultural Association of Hong Kong and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea.

In 2021, IFRC's parent company BLSB, has been appointed as the official onsultant of JAKIM Malaysia under the "Rakan Strategik" Scheme to process Malaysian Halal Application and to conduct training.

Alhamdulillah with the help of Allah S.W.T the Almighty throughout its 20 years of business, IFRC had survived many obstacles whilst managed to achieve numerous milestones without compromising its integrity and with so many more goals to accomplish. The Board would like to express its utmost gratitude to all IFRC & BLSB dedicated staffs, loyal clients, partners, affiliates, associations, NGOs, government agencies, friends and families for being part of its success over the years and looking forward to the continued support InshaAllah for many decades to come.

IFRC as Official Secretariat for WHC 20th Anniversary Celebration and AGM 2019

  Posted on November 11, 2019

In conjunction with 17th World Halal Council (WHC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2019, WHC is also organizing the 20th Anniversary Celebration with theme of "Islamic Unity in Halal Certification”. This event will include a speech slot that involves participation of 16 speakers with outstanding background from various countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, Maldives, Canada, United Kingdom, UAE, USA, UK and Spain.

Jakarta is selected as the venue for WHC AGM this year as it is the country where WHC was born. Thus apart from the AGM, WHC members will celebrate the 20th Anniversary here at The Sultan Hotel Jakarta which is previously known as The Hilton. Jakarta is the capital of Republic of Indonesia which located on the North West coast of the Indonesian Island, Java. It has the largest Muslim population in the world, with approximately 225 million Muslims.

As WHC is a council that consists of HCBs from all over the world, WHC is continuously making efforts in improving the development of halal research and harmonies halal standards between countries. This effort not only will bring peace between HCBs and consumers but also give a positive image of Islam in the eyes of the world.