Food and beverage firm RFM Corp. is targeting the Muslim market with its first halal-certified meat processing plant in Cabuyao, Laguna.

In a statement, RFM president and chief executive Jose Concepcion III said that the Islamic Da'Wah Council of the Philippines (IDCP) has awarded halal certification to the meat plant. The IDCP is the only halal certifying body in the country recognized by the World Halal Council.

"It is estimated that over 70 per cent of Muslims worldwide strictly follow halal food standards, and the global halal food market is currently a $560-billion industry. Even non-Muslims look for the halal seal and consider halal certification as a higher level of quality assurance," Concepcion said.

"Halal" is an Arabic term meaning "permissible." In food, it means those products that do not contain any prohibited substance, and have been prepared and processed in accordance with strict standards for purity, nurition and quality.

RFM vice-president for exports Imelda Madarang said that the company's halal certification is supported by the HACCP and "AAA" accreditations, two major requirements for exporting products.

"HACCP or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is a system that identifies, evaluates and controls biological, chemical and physical hazards significant to ensuring safety in food products. On the other hand, the triple A rating is a certification awarded after audit of plant facilities by the National Meat Inspection Service," she explained.

RFM has been producing a wide range of food and beverage products for the past 50 years.

Its chilled meat products under the Swift brand include Mighty Meaty hotdogs, Sweet and Juicy hotdogs, Chicken frankfurters, SAM brown hotdogs, Delicious bacons, and a variety of Christmas hams, as well as canned meat products such as Swift Juicy corned beef, Meaty corned beef, Vienna sausage, luncheon meat and meat loaf.