The conference kicked off with a Community Banquet, giving the industry attendees an opportunity to meet some community leaders and members, learn more about IFANCA and the Shura Council, hear some inspiring words from the keynote speaker, Dr. William Baker, President of CAMP (Christians and Muslims for Peace) and to enjoy a Halal meal. We were honored at the banquet by the presence of the Mayor Pro Tem of Buena Park, the Honorable Art Brown, who welcomed IFANCA and our guests and awarded city pins to IFANCA officials.

The Mayor also helped IFANCA present the industry and community awards. This year, there were two recipients of the Industry Achievement Award: SKW Biosystems and McCain Foods. The recipient of the Community Service Award was Riza Dagli, Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey. Br. Dagli was the driving force behind the passage of the New Jersey Halal Food Law. (More on the award recipients later in the newsletter.) IFANCA congratulates the award recipients.

The conference began the following day with sessions on the Philosophy Behind Islamic Food Laws, the Muslim Consumer, IFANCA's Halal Production Standards and Requirements, Islamic Code of Ethics, Critical Ingredients, and Halal HAACP. The conference continued the next day with sessions on Import Requirements for Halal Importing Countries, Crescent M Halal certification, industry presentations on Gelatin, Halal Beef Gelatin Hard Capsules and Halal Food Appetizers. The conference concluded with a recap of the information covered, final questions, closing remarks and a Halal lunch.

Conference attendees completed an evaluation form and were in unanimous agreement they would attend a future conference and would recommend their colleagues attend future conferences.

We thank all attendees for their participation and we thank our fine staff, for their usual outstanding effort.

We now turn our attention to Paris, France, the planned site of Halal Food Conference 2001, to be held May 13-15, 2001.

SKW Biosystems has become the largest Halal beef gelatin producer in the world. In a project that took 8 years to complete, SKW Biosystems persevered and is now producing and marketing IFANCA certified Halal beef gelatin. Halal bones are gathered from Zabiha Halal animals in Pakistan, shipped to France and processed into certified Halal gelatin. The gelatin is used in the manufacture of Halal marshmallows and Halal capsules for use in pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements.

During the conference, George discussed the process of producing gelatin, the additional considerations for producing Halal certified gelatin and the partnership with IFANCA. IFANCA worked with SKW Biosystems to make sure the Halal bones would remain segregated from other bones and the procedures would ensure the integrity of the Halal raw materials and products. SKW Biosystems has now been producing and marketing certified Halal gelatin for 2 years.

Chris Kotevich, Quality Manager for R. P. Scherer, discussed the production of IFANCA certified Halal beef gelatin hard capsules, which are used for nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.

McCain Foods is the worldís largest producer of french fries and appetizers. (The only other major producers of french fries in the world are Lamb Weston and Simplot and they are also certified by IFANCA.) In the conference, Brian spoke about McCain's association with IFANCA and the importance McCain is placing on the Halal product line. Currently, all Halal certified products are being exported to Halal consuming countries. Perhaps the future will bring these Halal products to the domestic market.

Congratulations to SKW Biosystems and McCain Foods, recipients of the IFANCA Industry Achievement Awards.

Br. Dagli worked with Assemblyman Alfred E. Steele who sponsored the bill in the State Legislature and Senator John Girgenti, who sponsored the bill in the State Senate.

In July, Governor Christine Whitman signed the bill in a bill signing ceremony at the Islamic Center of Paterson. We congratulate Br. Dagli for his foresight and success in this great achievement. We also thank Assemblyman Steele, Senator John Girgenti and Governor Christine Whitman for their pioneering efforts in recognizing the needs of the Muslim community.

We look forward to the passage of similar laws in the remaining 49 states. Br. Dagli has set the pattern!