Continuous effort is being made to further strengthen the credibility of halal certification of Brunei Darussalam. A Halal Audit Training program is being conducted to enhance the capability of halal auditors in accordance with the international standard, ISO 19011, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. The four-day Halal Audit Training course was held from 12 to 15 November 2007, at the Bilik Permai, Agriculture Department Head Quarters, Old Airport, Berakas, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

The training course was conducted by a consultant from Bureau Veritas International, an international well known company originated in France, that carry out services in consultancy, inspection and certification, that related to quality, health, social responsibility, safety, environment and halal. It was attended by 25 participants from Department of Agriculture; Department of Religious Council; State Mufti's Office; Department of Syariah Affairs; Department of Health Services; Department of Fishery; and National Accreditation and Standards Centre.

The objectives of the training course are:

- To enable the participants to understand the importance of auditing to support the Halal Certification in Brunei Darussalam;

- To know the effective halal auditing procedure and process;

- To understand the criteria and attributes of an auditor;

- To gain knowledge and ability to establish halal monitoring and verification activities; and

- To provide the audit skills to halal auditors in becoming trained halal auditors and registered under the Religious Council, Brunei Darussalam.

As a trained and registered halal auditors, the participants are able to conduct audit as well as compliance check governing Brunei Darussalam Standard for Halal Food PBD 24:2007, Halal Meat Act and Rules, Halal Label Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005, and Brunei Darussalam Certification Guideline for Halal Certificate and Halal Label (BCG Halal 1, 2, 3 and 4).

Some of the topics covered in the training course are Halal Auditing System; and Document Review, Audit Program, Opening and Closing Meeting, Audit Checklist and Audit Report Formats for Halal. Live Halal Audit, as a part of the training course, will also be conducted at one of the local food processing Company's factory in Brunei-Muara District.

This training will strengthen further the capability of Brunei Darussalam's haIal auditors to conduct halal audit professionally for Brunei Darussalam Standard for Halal Food PBD 24:2007, Halal Meat Act and Rules, and Halal Label Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005; to manage the halal audit programme from planning to report writing; and to conduct halal monitoring, traceability and verification.

This training course is going to be a continuous program to support the halal certification procedure in Brunei Darussalam and also the Brunei Halal Brand initiative.

The Brunei Halal Brand is a project initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources along with the cooperation of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Health. The creation of the Brunei Halal Brand is in line with Brunei Darussalam's aggressive effort in moving towards developing a diversified, competitive and sustainable economy, away from oil and gas.