Food / Products are considered halal if:

1. They do not contain parts from forbidden animals for Muslims or are not slaughtered;
2. They do not contain impurities (najis);
3. They are not intoxicating;
4. They do not contain parts or products from humans;
5. They are not toxic or harmful to humans;
6. Equipment is not contaminated with impurities; and
7. They are not in contact with, mixed with, or close to forbidden animals or impurities during processing.

Using misleading or confusing language suggesting that food is permissible for Muslims is also an offense. Examples of phrases indicating that food is halal include:

1. Use of Quranic verses
2. The words Allah or Muhammad
3. Ramadan/iftar buffet
4. Islamic calligraphy or script
5. Bismillahirahmanirahim

Penalties

If a trader is found guilty of an offense, they may be fined:

• For corporations: up to RM 5,000,000.00, or for specific offenses, up to RM 10,000,000.00
• For non-corporations: up to RM 1,000,000.00 / imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both; for specific offenses, up to RM 5,000,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

Only authorized bodies are permitted to issue halal certification in Malaysia, which are:

1. Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM); and
2. State Islamic Religious Councils (MAIN).

Food, products, or services that wish to use the halal description or halal phrases must:

1. certified as halal by JAKIM or MAIN; and
2. Be marked with a valid halal logo.

Imported food or products wishing to use the halal description or halal phrases must:

1. Be certified as halal by JAKIM or MAIN; and
2. Be marked with a valid halal logo; or
3. Be certified as halal by an internationally recognized halal certification body approved by JAKIM; and
4. Be marked with the certification body’s halal logo.

Currently, 83 international certification bodies from 46 countries have been recognized by JAKIM (Trade Descriptions Order (Certification and Marking) (Amendment of the Second Schedule) 2023).

Penalties

If a trader is found guilty of an offense, they may be fined:

• For corporations: up to RM 200,000.00, or for specific offenses, up to RM 500,000.00

• For non-corporations: up to RM 100,000.00 / imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both; for specific offenses, up to RM 250,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

The Malaysian Halal Directory is a source of information for finding halal-certified products, food premises, and services. It includes halal certification information in Malaysia verified by JAKIM and JAIN, as well as information on international halal certification (Malaysian Halal Certification Abroad).

Official Malaysian Halal Portal: www.halal.gov.my/v4/