RIYADH: Saudi Food and Drug Authority CEO Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey met Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohamad Naim bin Mokhtar in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to discuss supporting and expanding the halal industry in Malaysia. Malaysian Department of Islamic Development Director General Hakimah Yusuf also attended the meeting. The two sides discussed unifying halal standards and boosting coordination in legislative and technical research, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They also stressed the need to have a global regulatory and legislative framework for the halal industry, joint work to develop global oversight in this field, mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of halal products for Muslims around the world, and mutual acceptance of products manufactured in the two countries. The Kingdom had signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia on mutual recognition of halal certificates issued by both countries. The memorandum covers cooperation in recognizing halal certificates issued by the Saudi Halal Center, which is affiliated with the SFDA and JAKIM in Malaysia, and in conformity-assessment procedures, standards, technical regulations and standards for issuing halal certificates, as well as the exchange of expertise and knowledge in training, research and laboratory analysis.