Malaysia JAKIM Halal Certification

The Halal Management Division is one of the divisions of JAKIM that is responsible for carrying out halal certification in Malaysia together with the state Islamic Religious Departments.

Halal certification began as early as 1965 by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS). JAKIM began halal certification in 1974 when the Islamic Affairs Division, JPM issued halal certification letters to food and beverage products that met the requirements of sharia.

At that time, it was one of the bodies that supervised the certification of halal products in addition to the State Islamic Religious Departments (JAIN) that also carried out halal certification with their respective logos.

In 1994, halal certification was given in the form of a certification letter together with the BAHEIS halal logo. In November 2002, the Islamic Food and Consumer Products Research Division, JAKIM was established and began operations on January 16, 2003 as a halal certification body with the aim of coordinating, issuing and monitoring Halal Certification Letters and enforcing all halal-related regulations in Malaysia.

From there, the government decided that all halal certification matters would be fully carried out by JAKIM through the Islamic Food and Consumer Products Research Division with the use of a new halal logo. On November 1, 2005, this division was renamed the Halal Industry Division.

Over time, various changes have occurred where the production of halal certification has been entrusted to be managed by the Halal Industry Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (HDC) in 2008. The responsibility of halal certification was later returned to JAKIM on August 1, 2009.

On December 3, 2018, history recorded another major change when the Halal Industry Division was expanded into two (2) main divisions namely the Secretariat of the Malaysian Halal Council (MHM) and the Halal Management Division (BPH). The Halal Management Division will manage halal certification operations including the process of reviewing certification applications for products and premises, auditing of products and premises, issuance of halal certificates, verification of foreign slaughterhouses, monitoring and enforcement of halal and halal analysis centres.

As the authority responsible for Islamic matters in this country, JAKIM through the Halal Management Division is the main agency responsible for halal certification and enforcement. In this context, JAKIM has outlined a vision to become a reputable and recognized halal certification service centre at the national and international levels.

Sources:
https://www.islam.gov.my/