Australia has moved to ban 11 Indonesian abattoirs from importing their live cattle after footages of mistreatment and abuse prior to Halal slaughter surfaced late last week.

The halal food market is one of the largest opportunities in the food and agribusiness sector globally, with the red meat trade seen as the most lucrative for Pakistani companies.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has found traces of pig DNA in meat products supplied by Lucky Food Processing Sdn Bhd resulting in the revocation of its Halal certification with immediate effect.

Australian and New Zealand farmers are switching to dairy operations and have scaled down production for Halal lamb meat, resulting in high meat prices for Easter and Passover in Maryland, US.

As populations and food needs grow across the Middle East, one Egyptian businessman has spotted a niche export opportunity for Australia: halal camel meat.

The Netherlands is set to introduce a new bill that, if passed, would make all unstunned slaughtered meat illegal, effectively banning Halal and Kosher meat in the country.

The Halal Steering Group of Eblex, the organisation for UK beef and sheep industry, will meet trade representatives from the United Arab Emirates in a bid to open up Halal meat export markets to the Middle East.

Iowa-based Midamar Corporation became the first American company to win the prestigious Gulfood Award when it won The Best New Halal Food title for its new line of Halal Air Chilled Chicken at the event's gala dinner in Dubai, UAE.

Famous for their Kobe beef - the most expensive in the world for its rich flavor, tenderness and fatty marbling - the country's meat producers have begun turning their attention to an underserved market looking to taste this Japanese delicacy.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken over the entire North American region as the world's largest stand alone market for Australian lamb, said Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

The Middle East and North Africa region maintains its dominant position as Australia's largest buyer of lamb in 2010, after importing 38,151 tonnes, or 24.5% of total exports.

A decision made at the recent Halal Industry & Halal Services Conference in Salmiyah, Kuwait could have positive benefits in exporting opportunities for UK halal meat suppliers.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said the Brunei Investment Agency is eyeing potential projects in halal meat production, hotel and real estate projects in a big way in Sarawak, Sabah and Johor.

The need to establish a disease-free zone for animals is deemed crucial to a country that is looking to develop its local meat sector and cater to the burgeoning global Halal market.