There are two routes to Halal certification for the Malaysian market. Companies that make or handle products in Malaysia apply to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), or a state Islamic religious authority, through the MYeHALAL online system. Foreign manufacturers exporting to Malaysia are certified instead by one of the 96 foreign certification bodies that JAKIM recognizes.
This article was first published in November 2022. It has been updated with JAKIM’s current procedures under the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual 2020, the August 2026 list of recognized foreign certifiers, fees and 2025 export data.
Reviewed by Hafiz Maqsood Ahmed.
Malaysia’s Halal mark is among the most widely recognized in the world, and the country is building an export industry around it. Malaysia’s Halal exports reached 68.52 billion ringgit (about $16 billion) in 2025, up 10.9 percent from a year earlier and about 4.3 percent of the country’s total exports, according to the Halal Development Corporation, the government agency that promotes the industry. For a manufacturer, a Malaysian Halal certificate opens the domestic market and is accepted by many importing countries.
Who issues Halal certificates in Malaysia
JAKIM, a federal agency under the Prime Minister’s Department, is the national Halal certification authority. State Islamic religious councils and departments also certify businesses that sell only within their states, using the same procedures. Certification fees are payable to JAKIM or to the relevant state council or department, according to the Halal Malaysia Portal.
The legal framework is the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and two orders made under it: one defines Halal and the other governs the certification and marking of Halal products. JAKIM’s list of recognized foreign certifiers is gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, according to the JAKIM document. Earlier versions of this article cited a 1975 order, which the 2011 framework replaced.
The system may change. In November 2025, Malaysia’s government said a new Malaysian Halal Commission would take over Halal governance, as we reported in our coverage of Malaysia’s new Halal commission. In September 2026, JAKIM urged the government to consider a dedicated Halal Act to strengthen enforcement against misuse of Halal logos and claims, according to the New Straits Times.
The standards and manuals that apply
Malaysian certification rests on national standards for each product type and on JAKIM’s procedure manual. The main documents are:
| Document | What it covers |
|---|---|
| MS 1500:2019 | Halal food: general requirements for production, preparation, handling and storage |
| MS 2634:2019 | Halal cosmetics: general requirements |
| Malaysian Halal Management System (MHMS) 2020 | The internal Halal control and assurance systems companies must run |
| Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (MPPHM) 2020 | Eligibility, application, audit, fees, monitoring and use of the Halal logo |
JAKIM publishes MHMS 2020 and the procedure manual on the Halal Malaysia Portal. The manual applies to companies registered in Malaysia or abroad, provided they manufacture or operate in Malaysia, according to a summary by the regulatory consultancy ChemLinked.
Who is eligible
JAKIM certifies only businesses that are fully committed to Halal production. Under the procedure manual, an applicant must, among other things:
- hold a valid business registration and the relevant manufacturing or local authority license;
- have operated for at least three months before applying for a new certificate;
- produce and handle only Halal products at the facility, including traded goods;
- avoid using the word “halal,” or names associated with non-halal products, in company or brand names;
- employ Muslim staff in the processing area: at least two permanent Malaysian Muslim employees for large and medium companies, and at least one for small and micro companies.
Large and medium companies must also run a Halal Assurance System with a halal executive and an internal halal committee; small and micro companies need an Internal Halal Control System with a halal supervisor, according to ChemLinked’s summary of the manual. Applications are rejected when a premises produces both halal and non-halal products, when the same brand covers halal and non-halal items, or when finished goods are only relabeled in Malaysia.
How to apply: step by step
- Register on MYeHALAL. Create a company account on JAKIM’s online system using the company’s registration number.
- Choose the right scheme. JAKIM runs separate schemes for food and beverages, food premises, slaughterhouses, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, logistics, contract manufacturing and medical devices.
- Submit the application and documents. Provide product lists, raw material specifications and their halal certificates, process flow charts, packaging details and, for cosmetics, product notifications from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.
- Adequacy audit and fee. JAKIM reviews the documents and, if they are complete, issues a fee letter. ChemLinked reports that the fee must be paid within 14 working days.
- Site audit. At least two JAKIM auditors inspect the premises, review records and may take samples for laboratory tests, including tests for porcine DNA and alcohol. Laboratory costs are borne by the applicant, according to JAKIM.
- Corrective action. Any nonconformities must be fixed within the deadline JAKIM sets.
- Panel decision and certificate. A halal certification panel approves the application, and JAKIM issues the Malaysian Halal Certificate (Sijil Pengesahan Halal Malaysia, or SPHM).
- Monitoring and renewal. JAKIM carries out scheduled and unannounced monitoring. Serious violations, such as porcine contamination or mixing halal and non-halal materials, lead to immediate revocation, according to ChemLinked.
How much it costs
JAKIM charges fees by company size and category, and says its fee schedule “is subject to change.” The fee paid covers certification for two years, and a new fee is charged for every renewal, according to the Halal Malaysia Portal.
| Company size | Annual certification fee |
|---|---|
| Micro | RM100 |
| Small | RM400 |
| Medium | RM700 |
| Large or multinational | RM1,000 |
Source: ChemLinked’s summary of MPPHM 2020, which also reports a processing fee of RM20 for domestic applicants and RM200 for foreign-owned companies manufacturing in Malaysia.
The fee is only part of the cost. Companies also pay for laboratory tests, staff training, halal executives’ salaries and, often, changes to suppliers or production lines.
Exporting to Malaysia from abroad
A manufacturer outside Malaysia does not apply to JAKIM for a Malaysian certificate for products made abroad. Its products must instead be certified by a foreign halal certification body that JAKIM recognizes. As of Aug. 21, 2026, JAKIM recognized 96 bodies and authorities in 49 countries and regions, according to its list of recognized foreign halal certification bodies.
JAKIM appoints each foreign body for three years, requires an annual report and audits it again before renewal. Meat and poultry imported into Malaysia must be certified by a recognized body, and the plants must be inspected and approved by JAKIM and the Department of Veterinary Services. Products certified by a foreign body must show that body’s name on the label, the document says.
| Country | Examples of JAKIM-recognized certifiers (Aug. 21, 2026) |
|---|---|
| United States | Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA); Islamic Services of America (ISA); American Halal Foundation (AHF) |
| United Kingdom | Halal Certification Europe; Halal Food Authority |
| Australia | Seven bodies, including the Australian Halal Authority and Advisers and the Australian National Imams Council’s ANIC Halal Authority |
| Brazil | FAMBRAS Halal; CDIAL Halal; SIILHalal |
| Indonesia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia | The national authorities: BPJPH, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority |
| Japan | Six bodies, including the Japan Muslim Association and Japan Halal Association |
JAKIM amended the list at least twice in 2026, in January and August, so exporters should check the current version before choosing a certifier. Malaysia also recognizes certain national authorities through agreements; our guide to JAKIM and MUI recognition rules explains how Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s systems treat each other’s certificates.
Using the Malaysian halal logo
Only products with a valid Malaysian halal certificate may carry the Malaysian halal logo. The logo shows the Malaysian standard the product meets and the last 10 digits of the application’s file number, which consumers can check in JAKIM’s halal directory, according to ChemLinked’s summary of the manual. Contract manufacturers may not put the logo on products that are not themselves certified. For what to check on any halal mark, see our guide on how to spot a trusted halal logo.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign company get JAKIM certification directly?
Only for operations in Malaysia. A foreign-owned company that manufactures in Malaysia can apply to JAKIM. Products made abroad need a certificate from a JAKIM-recognized foreign certifier.
Is halal certification mandatory in Malaysia?
Not for most products. It becomes necessary when a business wants to use the halal logo or make a halal claim, and for meat and poultry imports, which must be certified by a recognized body.
Can a factory that also makes non-halal products be certified?
Generally not. The procedure manual excludes premises that produce or distribute halal and non-halal products together.
For the wider picture, see our explainer on what halal certification means for businesses.
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