Nigeria plans QR certification system for Halal exports

Nigeria is developing a national Halal framework that will include a QR-based certification system for exported products, Special Assistant to the President on Export Expansion Aliyu Sheriff said. Sheriff, who also serves as secretary of the Nigeria Halal Economy Strategy Implementation Committee, disclosed the plan in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase in Kuala Lumpur. Under the proposed system, each certified export would carry a QR code allowing buyers to trace the product to its factory of origin.

Sheriff said the framework would establish standards for certification, accreditation and traceability, enabling international buyers to verify the source and compliance of Nigerian goods. He said Nigeria needed a credible certification structure to compete more effectively in international markets. The government’s strategy covers Islamic finance, Halal compliance, market access, capacity development and infrastructure, with technology and accreditation forming part of the compliance work.

Sheriff said Nigeria was studying established Halal systems in Malaysia and Indonesia while developing an approach suited to local conditions. The government also plans to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises meet international requirements, including those related to standardisation and packaging. He said the Halal economy should not be viewed only as a Muslim market because its principles also relate to quality, safety, ethics and sustainability.

The strategy is intended to cover areas including food, modest fashion, tourism, hospitality, livestock and other services. A draft implementation framework is being finalised, Sheriff said, with capacity-building activities involving international partners planned for November. He said the framework was expected to be completed before the end of the year.

A secretariat at the Bank of Industry has been established to coordinate implementation.