Why Halal Certification Matters in Malaysia

In Malaysia, where over 60% of the population is Muslim, halal certification is very important. While it’s not required for all products, if you want to sell food or other consumables in Malaysia, it’s a good idea to get a halal certificate from JAKIM (the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia).

You can still sell non-halal products in Malaysia, but it’s illegal to falsely label or market non-halal items as halal. This can lead to serious penalties.

In this article, we’ll explain how you can get halal certification in Malaysia.

Types of Halal Certificates in Malaysia

JAKIM is the organization in charge of halal standards in Malaysia. Whether you’re a local or international business, you need to go through JAKIM to get a halal certificate.

There are nine different types of halal certifications in Malaysia, depending on what you’re offering:

1. Food and drinks
2. Cosmetics
3. Medicines
4. Restaurants and food outlets
5. Used goods
6. Logistics services
7. Slaughterhouses
8. Contract manufacturing/OEM
9. Medical devices

What You Need to Get Halal Certification

Getting a halal certificate is about more than just using the right ingredients. It means that everything from how you source your materials to how you package your product follows Islamic guidelines. JAKIM has strict rules for companies that want a halal certificate.

Here are some of the basic requirements:

• A valid business registration
• Licenses or approvals from local authorities
• At least three months of full operation
• Only producing and handling halal products
• Detailed descriptions of your products and ingredients
• Halal certificates for raw materials
• Information about your manufacturing process and packaging materials
• A map of your facility
• Making sure your product names and labels clearly indicate they are halal

Depending on your business, you might also need extra licenses like:

• Food Premises Registration
• Veterinary Certification
• Manufacturer’s License
• Establishment License

How to Get Halal Certification in Malaysia

The process to get a halal certificate has three main steps: applying, inspection, and approval.

1. Apply for Certification First, you need to submit your application through the Halal Malaysia portal. Make sure you have all your documents ready. After applying, you’ll need to pay a fee so that JAKIM can start processing your application.
2. Facility Inspection Once your application is accepted, JAKIM will arrange an inspection of your facility. Inspectors will check your production process, materials, and facility to make sure everything follows halal guidelines. They’ll look for anything that isn’t halal, like pork products or alcohol, and make sure there’s no risk of contamination. Depending on your business size, you might also need to have 1-2 Muslim employees for each shift.
3. Certification Approval After a successful inspection, JAKIM’s Halal certification committee will review your application. If everything is in order, they will approve your halal certificate, which is valid for two years. During this time, JAKIM might do additional checks to ensure you’re still following the rules.

Keeping Your Halal Certification

Getting your halal certificate is just the start. To keep it, you need to follow certain rules depending on your business size. Small businesses should have a simple Internal Halal Control System, while larger companies need a more detailed Halal Assurance System.

Get Help with Halal Certification

Getting a halal certificate in Malaysia can be complicated, but you don’t have to do it alone. SQC Management Penang has a team of experts who can guide you through the process, making sure you meet all of JAKIM’s standards.

If you’re ready to get started, contact us to talk to one of our experts.