ABSTRACT
Kosher and halal compliance hinges on what we call 'practical standards' for the logistics, systems and infrastructure required to enable the development of food and non-food retailing based on religious observance. Reflecting on standards helps regulators and businesses to develop the infrastructure for this kind of retailing in a commercial and cultural environment in which religious observance is not the overriding concern. Formal halal standards such as those created by Malaysia MS1500 (2004) are unique in the global market for halal. However, standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), for example, about how to organise, what policies to pursue, what kind of services to offer and how to design products, are also indirectly important for kosher and halal production, trade and regulation. Standardisation of proper handling and transport are challenging not only for the company but also for companies that supply containers, for example, and again documentation and traceability become essential in making kosher production auditable.
