US export company receives halal feed ingredient certification
The New Jersey-based feed and ingredient export company received the new halal certification for its poultry feed ingredient last week. The certification was granted by Islamic Services of America.
Interest in having the feed ingredient certified started with an inquiry from a customer in Southeast Asia, a company spokesperson said. “That got the process set in motion,” she added.
“Fornazor has a unique certification,” she told FeedNavigator. “And is working to offer customers halal from feed to fork.”
Additionally, seeking the certification for feed ingredient was of interest because it offers a potential for growth and global value she said. The company also has an established export market footprint in regions were the halal certification is used in food.
“Fornazor decided to pursue halal certification because of our strength in the Mid-East as well as in Southeast Asia – two geographic areas where the Muslim population is strong and getting stronger,” she added.
Fornazor International focuses on exporting feed ingredients including animal and vegetable proteins, whole grains, forage grasses, marine proteins, specialty ingredients and equine feed. The company has trans-loading, trade and production locations on the East Coast, West Coast and throughout the Midwest and did $170m in feed ingredient sales in 2015.
Certification process and poultry feed
Halal references a set of rules establishing permissible and forbidden activities in Islam and often relates to food, the company said. Traceability also plays a role in assuring halal integrity throughout the supply chain.
The certification process took about 90 days, said the spokesperson.
The poultry feed ingredient that gained the new certification, Super Pro Plus, was already completely vegetarian, she said. “Therefore no animal ingredients of any sort are included – there was no change to the formula since Super Pro was always vegetable-based,” she added.
Additionally, the facility that stored and handled the ingredient helped simplify the certification process because no animal-based ingredients were stored there, she said.
The feed ingredient is a vegetable protein concentrate that was designed for use in layer, broiler and breeder rations, the company said. It provides concentrated energy, digestible protein and a strong amino acid profile but does not include animal protein sources.
Market potential and development
The company is expecting that initial commercial sales for the feed ingredient will be in Southeast Asia, the spokesperson said.
It also is expecting to market the product in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India and Africa, the company said. Intended customers include large poultry farms and distributors.
Currently, the company’s primary sales regions are North and East Asia and Southeast Asia, it reported.
