Muslim Views

Muslim Views . June 2016 33

MAHMOOD SANGLAYTOKEID means ‘assurance’ inArabic. The launch of TokeidBiotech, on June 1, in Observatory, Cape Town, isprobably the first of its kind inAfrica and heralds a milestone inthe South African halaal industry.

A halaal laboratory performstests on samples of particularlyfood products in order to scientif-ically analyse the ingredients andthen report its findings.

Tokeid does not issue halaalcertificates. This is done by therelevant halaal authorities. How-ever, these authorities rely on theresults of laboratory tests todetermine whether a given pro-duct contains any substances thatmay not be consumed by Mus-lims, like alcohol or porcineingredients.

Laboratory tests confirmingthe presence or absence of suchingredients are used by halaalauthorities to determine if halaalcertificates can be issued. Testsdone by Tokeid can detect foodfraud, contamination and misla-belling of animal-derived prod-ucts.

In November 2011, OrionCold Storage, in Muizenberg,Cape Town, was found to havelabelled pork products halaal.Muslims were outraged and ahalaal authority was also impli-cated.

In February 2013, a Stellen-bosch University study found that68 per cent of 139 meat productscontained ingredients notdeclared on the labelling. Theserevelations elicited an outcryfrom the general public.

Increased public awarenesspoints to the need, particularly inthe halaal industry, for an inde-pendent entity possessing thetechnical resources, skills andintegrity to routinely conducttests on food products that carryhalaal certification.

Tokeid emerges in directresponse to this need, as the firstcontender in an uncontested com-mercial space, at least in SouthernAfrica. In addition, Tokeid’s self-styled mandate is not limited tothe halaal foods business. Fornow, it extends to kosher andvegan foods as well.

However, the footprint of theglobal and local halaal industriesalone are significant. Globally, thehalaal food industry is worthUS$500 billion. According to theState of the Global Islamic Econ-omy Report of 2015/2016, thefood and lifestyle sector expendi-ture is projected to reach US$2,6trillion in 2020.

Research by Muslim Views in2012 shows that the halaal certi-fication industry in South Africais worth R25 million.

This is an estimate of SouthAfrica’s four halaal certifiers’income, and not the local indus-

try’s gross trade value, which isestimated at R220 billion. A mod-est estimate of 0,05 per cent ofR220 billion places the SA halaalfoods industry trade value at R1,1billion per annum.

This is the opportunity identi-fied and seized by Kamal Salasa, apopular presenter on communityradio station Voice of the Cape.However, Salasa also holds a B.Scin Biotechnology and anAdvanced Diploma in Manage-ment.

The halaal and mislabellingscandals were catalysts for theprecocious sensibility of thisyoung entrepreneur. According toSalasa’s partners and mentors,Anwah Nagia and ReinhardHiller, he displayed grit and per-severance.

Nagia is Chairman of ElementInvestment Managers and theKaaf Trust. He runs several otherbusinesses and is a renownedactivist and community leader. Itis Nagia’s substantial networkwith stakeholders and the Muslimconsumer market that impressedthe key investor in the project, theCentre for Proteomic andGenomic Research (CPGR).

Hiller is Managing Director ofCPGR in Cape Town, a companyfocused on converging innovationand commercial interests in thelife sciences and biotechnology.He is also a scientist holding aPh.D in Biochemistry and anMBA. It is under Hiller’s directionthat CPGR holds a long trackrecord in converting innovationin biotechnology into successfulbusinesses.

Tokeid is effectively part ofCPGR’s incubator programme inwhich they have invested over

R50 million for the laboratory.Hiller refers to Tokeid as an accel-erator programme because theyare committed to build start-upsthat are agile, lean and swift.Hence, Nagia’s expertise and roleas Executive Chairman of Tokeid,together with Hiller’s oversight ofCPGR’s accelerator project arecrucial in the strategic direction ofthe start-up.

However, Tokeid is also sup-ported by other eminent stake-holders, namely, the Departmentsof Science and Technology, Tradeand Industry and the TechnologyInnovation Agency.

In addition, Salasa says theyalready have professional rela-tions with international bodiessuch as the Standards and Metrol-ogy Institute for Islamic Coun-tries, in Turkey.

The facility also boasts world-class research and developmentcapability, ISO9001 accreditationand endorsement from all themajor halaal authorities in SouthAfrica.

Tokeid’s value proposition isdiverse. Integrity and indepen-dence are prioritised and they aimto ensure transparency and com-pliance with national and interna-tional standards.

At the launch, Salasaannounced that they are develop-ing a process to perform testsacross a range of 1 800 species.This places Tokeid in a positionto significantly reduce costs andoffer very competitive pricing tothe market.

Given such backing andprospects, Tokeid is poised totransform an opportunity in alocal market to a business withtangible global ambitions.

First halaal laboratory opens in SA

The leaders behind South Africaʼs first Halaal laboratory, Tokeid Biotech, envisage rapid growth for the start-up. Present at the launch were Dr ReinhardHiller, Managing Director of the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research,Kamal Salasa, Chief Executive Officer of Tokeid Biotech, and Anwah Nagia,Executive Chairman of Tokeid Biotech. Photo SHAHIED JOHAADIEN

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