Halal and Tayyiban Food Security: The Way Forward for Brunei Darussalam
摘要
The issue of food security came to prominence in Brunei Darussalam when supply chains were paralysed for some time due to constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Retail shortages were further exacerbated by panic buying behaviour exhibited by consumers; the effects were severe with a reported shortage of poultry and livestock towards the end of 2020. Alongside this was the issue of smuggled meat not recognised by the leading religious authority, Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei (Brunei Islamic Religious Council), and brought into the country without a halal import permit. Taken together, these issues intensified the need to ensure the goal of achieving halal and good, clean and wholesome (tayyiban) food security for Brunei. There is now an emerging trend to incorporate tayyiban into all stages of halal production and assurance. Halal and tayyiban food security is not only about accessibility and availability of food but also about ensuring that the entire supply chain from farm to table conforms to best halal standards and practices. Incorporating sustainable practices in the halal supply chain provides an opportunity to improve the many aspects of halal production, thus contributing towards a more sustainable and secure food future. This chapter aims to evaluate the meaning of food security in Islam and the concepts of halal and tayyiban. It also provides an overview of the potential benefits of incorporating halal and tayyiban into the food security framework of Brunei and some of the attendant policy implications.