Halal Certification & JAKIM in Malaysia

The official halal logo with its calligraphic script may look small on a food package — but behind it stands a federal system, laws carrying fines of millions of ringgit, and a single body that determines whether a product may claim to be halal in Malaysia. That body is JAKIM.

For Muslim consumers, the mark serves as an official verification marker. For businesses, it is the key to the domestic market and access to a global halal market estimated to be worth more than US$3 trillion. This article explains how Malaysia’s halal certification regime works, who holds the authority, what its schemes are, and what happens if the logo is misused.

Who has the authority to issue halal certificates in Malaysia?

In Malaysia, halal certification is not a free-market affair. Only two levels of authority are recognised to issue the Malaysia Halal Certificate (Sijil Pengesahan Halal Malaysia, SPHM):

• JAKIM (the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) — at the federal level.
• The State Islamic Religious Council (MAIN) / State Islamic Religious Department (JAIN) — at their respective state levels.

No private association, consulting company, or non-governmental body may issue an official halal certificate in the country. This sets Malaysia apart from many other countries where various private bodies compete to issue certificates.

JAKIM’s central role is not a long-standing, unchanging position. According to the official Halal Malaysia portal, management of Malaysia’s halal certification — both domestic and overseas — was returned to JAKIM through a Cabinet decision on 8 July 2009, after a period during which the function had been held by another entity. Since then, JAKIM has been the sole hub of the country’s halal policy and certification.

What is the legal basis for halal certification?

Halal in Malaysia is not merely a religious practice — it is enforced by civil law. Its backbone is the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (Act 730).

According to the legislative record, Act 730 was assented to by Parliament in 2011 and came into force on 1 November 2011. Its purpose is to promote fair trade practices by prohibiting false trade descriptions and misleading statements regarding the supply of goods and services.

Under this Act, two specific Orders govern halal matters:

Legal instrument	What it governs
Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011	Legally defines the meaning of “halal” and prohibits false halal claims
Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011	Governs the use of the halal certificate and logo/marking

Enforcement of these laws does not lie with JAKIM, but with KPDN (the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living). This is a key division of powers: JAKIM issues and audits certificates; KPDN prosecutes offenders in court.

Alongside the legislation, the key technical reference is the Malaysian Standard MS 1500 (Halal Food — General Requirements) published by the Department of Standards Malaysia, together with the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (MPPHM) which sets out the application and audit procedures.

What halal certification schemes are there?

Malaysia’s halal certification is not one-size-fits-all. It is divided into schemes according to the type of business activity. JAKIM’s official portal lists the following core categories:

1. Food and beverage products — food producers and manufacturers.
2. Consumer goods — non-food items.
3. Food premises — restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, bakeries and the like.
4. Slaughterhouses — abattoirs and livestock processing.
5. Logistics — transport and warehousing of food and goods.
6. Pharmaceuticals — medicines and health products.
7. Cosmetics and toiletries — personal care and beauty.

Beyond these seven cores, the MYeHALAL database also covers additional schemes such as OEM (contract manufacturing), cleaning services, raw materials, and e-commerce, reflecting the expansion of the halal ecosystem beyond food alone.

Each scheme has different document requirements, guidelines and audit processes. For example, a restaurant (premises scheme) is assessed in terms of its kitchen, raw materials and handlers; whereas a pharmaceutical plant is assessed according to the source of its active ingredients and its manufacturing process.

How does the process of applying for a halal certificate work?

Applications are now made entirely online through the MYeHALAL system on the official portal myehalal.halal.gov.my. In general, the process flows as follows:

1. Register and apply online — the company opens a MYeHALAL account and submits an application under the correct scheme.
2. Pay the fee — payment must be settled within a set period (according to the Sarawak state portal FAQ/KISWA, within 14 working days; the actual period may vary by state and scheme), otherwise the application may be rejected.
3. Document review — JAKIM/JAIN check the completeness of the documents, including the business licence (from the local authority, PBT), the list of ingredients, and supporting certificates.
4. Premises audit — officers conduct a physical inspection at the production site or premises.
5. Panel decision — the Halal Certification Committee/Panel makes the decision.
6. Issuance of the certificate — according to JAKIM’s Client Charter, the certificate is issued within 30 days after payment is received and all procedures and requirements are met.

For certain manufactured products, basic food safety requirements such as MeSTI (Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and HACCP must usually be in place first before the full halal application is processed.

How long is a certificate valid and how does renewal work?

A Malaysia halal certificate is not permanent. For most schemes, including food products and food premises, its validity period is two years, although the details can vary by scheme.

Because it must be renewed, certificate holders need to plan ahead:

• Renewal must be applied for early, before the expiry date (according to the Sarawak state portal FAQ/KISWA, within a range of 6 months to at least 3 months before expiry; verify the current period on the MYeHALAL portal).
• The renewal process is similar to the original application, including a re-audit of the premises.
• Allowing a certificate to lapse means the product can no longer legally display the halal logo until a new certificate is obtained.

As an illustration of fees (according to the schedule in the Sarawak state portal FAQ/KISWA; rates may vary by state, scheme and business size), overseas applicants from ASEAN countries are charged around RM2,100 (compared with a US-dollar rate for non-ASEAN overseas applicants), while premises such as hotels are charged RM200 per kitchen, and a certificate reprint around RM50. Refer to the current fee schedule on the MYeHALAL portal for the rates valid at the time of application.

What is the difference between JAKIM and HDC?

Many people confuse these two bodies. The difference is clear:

Aspect	JAKIM	HDC (Halal Development Corporation)
Main function	Issues & audits halal certificates	Develops the halal economy & industry
Certification authority	Yes (together with MAIN/JAIN)	No — does not issue certificates
Role towards companies	Assessor & compliance regulator	Mentor, training, promotion, market access

HDC is a federal government agency that supports companies — especially local and Bumiputera entrepreneurs — to obtain certification and expand their reach into international markets. But it does not issue certificates; that authority remains with JAKIM and the state religious agencies.

The scale of this industry is large. According to HDC, as of 16 January 2025, some 9,162 companies held JAKIM halal certificates, yet only around 1,600 of them were halal exporters — a figure considered modest compared with the global halal market worth more than US$3 trillion. HDC also noted that more than 70% of halal certificate holders are non-Bumiputera companies, reflecting their compliance with JAKIM’s standards.

What are the penalties if the halal logo is misused?

Misusing the halal logo or making a false halal claim is not a minor offence. It can carry heavy fines under the two 2011 Orders.

According to a statement by the Minister (as reported by Bernama), the penalties are as follows:

Under the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011:

• Companies — a fine of up to RM5 million.
• Individuals — a fine of up to RM1 million and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years.

Under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011:

• Companies — a first offence fine of up to RM200,000; repeat offences up to RM500,000.
• Individuals — a first offence fine of up to RM100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years; repeat offences up to RM250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years.

In a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat on 19 November 2024, the Ministry stressed that anyone who misuses symbols to deceive Muslim customers can face a fine of up to RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years under the Definition of Halal Order. The Minister also stated that the existing penalties are already severe enough to curb misuse.

The frozen-meat scandals involving fake halal logos that went viral in recent years show that this enforcement is not merely theoretical — it is actively enforced by KPDN.

Decision framework: does my business need a halal certificate?

Use this quick guide to assess your needs:

• Are you targeting Muslim consumers or the halal market? If so, an official certificate provides confidence and market access.
• Do you produce food, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals? A specific scheme exists for you — choose the correct one when applying.
• Do you want to export? Many international markets recognise the JAKIM logo; this is a significant export value-add.
• Do you just want to display the word or symbol “halal”? Be careful — displaying a halal claim without a valid certificate is a legal offence, not merely marketing.

If you choose to obtain a certificate, start by ensuring your food safety foundations (MeSTI/GMP/HACCP where relevant), then apply through MYeHALAL under the correct scheme.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the certificate lasts forever. It is usually valid for two years; missing the renewal window means losing halal status.
• Using another country’s halal logo instead of JAKIM’s. For the Malaysian domestic market, only certificates from JAKIM/MAIN/JAIN or a foreign body recognised by JAKIM are valid.
• Inventing your own “halal” logo. This can be an offence under the Marking of Halal Order 2011.
• Assuming HDC can issue certificates. HDC mentors; JAKIM certifies.
• Applying under the wrong scheme. A restaurant needs the premises scheme, not the product scheme — the wrong scheme delays the application.
• Delaying payment. Payment must be settled within the set period (according to the Sarawak state portal FAQ/KISWA, 14 working days; verify the current requirement) or the application may be rejected.

What’s next

If you are a business operator, the practical next step is to open a MYeHALAL account on JAKIM’s official portal, check the scheme suitable for your business, and confirm the current fee schedule and requirements. If you are a consumer, you can check the validity of any certificate through the official MYeHALAL database to make sure a product is genuinely certified.

To understand this ecosystem more deeply, explore related topics: the full role of JAKIM, enforcement by KPDN, and the technical standard MS 1500 that forms the basis for assessing halal food in Malaysia.

Note: This article is an AI-assisted draft and has not yet undergone expert human review. Fee figures, penalties and procedures can change — always verify with JAKIM’s official portal and the latest legal sources before making decisions.