How to Get a Halal Certificate in Malaysia

Halal certification in Malaysia is issued by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, known as JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia). It confirms that your product, premises, or service meets Malaysian halal standards across the whole supply chain, from raw materials through processing, storage, and delivery.

If you plan to manufacture, import, or sell food, beverages, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals in Malaysia, you will need to decide early whether to apply for halal certification. It is not mandatory, but more than 60% of Malaysia's population is Muslim. And most retailers, hotel chains, and food service operators will not stock a consumable product without it.

In this article, we will walk you through the requirements and process for obtaining a Halal certificate in Malaysia.

Is Halal Certification Mandatory in Malaysia?

Halal certification is voluntary under Malaysian law. You can legally import, manufacture, and sell non-halal products in the country.

What the law regulates is the use of the word halal. Under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, a product can only be described as halal if it has been certified by JAKIM or a state Islamic religious council and carries the official logo.

Using the term, the logo, or any wording that suggests halal status without certification is an offense. Companies face fines of up to RM250,000, and individuals up to RM100,000 or three years in prison.

Passing off non-halal food as halal is a separate and more serious offense, with corporate fines of up to RM5 million.

In commercial terms, certification is close to mandatory for anything sold to Malaysian consumers:

• Major supermarket chains, hotel groups, and franchise operators generally require a valid halal certificate before listing a product
• Some local authorities ask for halal certification before renewing a food premises license
• Imported meat and animal-based products (other than pork) must carry halal certification from a body JAKIM recognizes before they can be sold as halal

If you sell only to industrial customers, or your product is clearly non-halal and aimed at non-Muslim consumers, you can operate without certification.

Types of Halal Certificates

In Malaysia, halal is not a single certificate that covers everything. JAKIM divides halal certification into nine schemes, each with its own documentation, fee category, and validity period.

These schemes cover specific business sector and product types with varying certification validity:

1. Food and beverage products: manufacturers, repackers, central kitchens, and brand owners. Valid for two years.
2. Food premises: restaurants, cafes, hotel kitchens, caterers, bakeries, food trucks, and kiosks. Valid for two years.
3. Cosmetic products: external-use products notified with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). Valid for three years.
4. Pharmaceutical products: medicines and supplements registered with the Drug Control Authority. Valid for three years.
5. Consumer goods: products where the source of raw materials needs verification, such as leather goods. Valid for three years.
6. Logistics services: transport, warehousing, and retail operators. Valid for three years.
7. Slaughterhouses: poultry and ruminant facilities. Valid for one year.
8. Contract manufacturing and OEM: factories producing or repacking for third-party brands. Valid for three years.
9. Medical devices: products registered with the Medical Device Authority (MDA). Valid for three years.

Please note that halal certification is granted per scheme and per premises, not per company. If your business runs more than one type of operation, you hold more than one certificate.

For instance, a restaurant group with a central kitchen certifies the kitchen under the food products scheme and each outlet under the food premises scheme.

If you are unsure which scheme applies to you, it is recommended to consult Emerhub local experts. Our team can confirm your category before you file and handle the process on your behalf.

Requirements to Apply for the Halal Certificate in Malaysia

A halal certificate is not just about the right product ingredients. It ensures that the entire supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing and packaging, follows the Islamic dietary laws.

Therefore, JAKIM has strict requirements and regulations in place for companies who want to apply or renew their halal certificates.

General Requirements

Before JAKIM will accept an application, your business must meet four conditions:

• Registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or another recognized government agency
• Holding a valid premises license from the local authority (PBT)
• Fully operational for at least three months, with production and purchasing records available for audit
• Producing and handling halal products only at the certified premises

The three-month rule means a newly incorporated company cannot apply immediately. JAKIM needs operating records to audit, so certification can only follow once you have been trading for a quarter.

The halal-only rule is also strict. A facility cannot certify one product line while running a non-halal line alongside it, and the same brand name cannot be used for both halal and non-halal products. Companies that produce both usually separate them into different premises under different brands.

Documents to Submit

Your halal certification application must include:

• Business registration certificate
• Local authority premises license
• Names and descriptions of the products or services to be certified
• A full list of ingredients, with a halal certificate from a recognized body for each one, or documentation of the source where no certificate exists
• A description of the manufacturing process
• Details of packaging materials
• A layout plan of the premises

JAKIM also reviews your company, product, brand, and menu names. Names that suggest non-halal products, such as ham, bacon, beer, or bak kut teh, are rejected, as are labels carrying religious phrases or claims that the guidelines do not permit.

Sector-Specific Licenses

Depending on your scheme, you will also need a license or registration from the relevant regulator before you apply:

• Ministry of Health (BKKM) for food premises registration
• National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for cosmetic product notification and pharmaceutical manufacturer's licenses
• Drug Control Authority for pharmaceutical product registration
• Medical Device Authority (MDA) for device registration and establishment licenses
• Department of Veterinary Services (JPV) for slaughterhouse approval
• Royal Malaysian Customs and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for logistics operators handling dutiable goods or running haulage

These licenses need to be in place before you file. If your company is still at the setup stage, our guide to business licenses in Malaysia explains how to obtain them.

Company Size and Staffing Requirements

JAKIM classifies applicants by annual revenue, and your classification sets both your fee and your staffing obligations:

• Micro: below RM300,000
• Small: RM300,000 to below RM15 million
• Medium: RM15 million to RM50 million
• Large: above RM50 million

Every certified business must employ Malaysian Muslim staff in the processing area and appoint a person responsible for halal compliance.

The Halal Executive position has specific qualifications:

• The person must be a Malaysian Muslim in a permanent role
• hold a diploma in halal management or have five years of halal management experienceH
• Hold a Halal Executive Certificate from a training provider registered with JAKIM's Halal Professional Board. Certificates from unregistered providers are not accepted.

For a foreign-owned manufacturer in the medium or large tier, this means at least three specific hires must be in place before the audit: two employees on the processing floor and one qualified Halal Executive. Recruitment for these roles should begin well before you file.

Halal Management System

Once certified, you must operate a documented halal management system as set out in the Malaysian Halal Management System manual (MHMS 2020).

• Internal Halal Control System (IHCS) applies to micro and small businesses. It consists of written halal policies, raw material control procedures, and traceability records.
• Halal Assurance System (HAS) applies to medium and large businesses. It adds an Internal Halal Committee, internal audits, staff training records, and a Halal Executive responsible for the system.

Process of Obtaining the Halal Certificate

As of May 2025, all applications for halal certification are now processed electronically, replacing traditional paper-based methods. To facilitate faster and more transparent certification, the digital system now issues secure electronic certificates (e-Certs). Let's take a look at the process:

1. Submit Application via the MyeHALAL Online Platform

Create an account on the MYeHALAL portal. Complete the online application form by providing essential details about your business and the halal products or services you intend to certify.

Upload all the necessary documents including your business registration certificate, license from local authorities, product ingredient list, manufacturing processes, and halal sourcing. These documents must be scanned or converted into approved digital platforms.

2. Pay the Certification Fees

JAKIM issues a fee letter once your documents are accepted. Payment is due within 14 working days, through the portal by card or online banking.

If payment is not received in time, the application is voided and you must reapply.

3. Document Review and Field Audit

JAKIM first reviews your documents for completeness, then schedules a field audit of your premises. You do not choose the audit date, so your facility should be ready from the day you file.

During the audit, JAKIM officers hold an opening meeting, review your records, inspect the processing area and storage, interview staff, and may take product samples for laboratory testing.

They check for the presence of non-halal materials and for any way they could enter the process, including shared equipment, storage, and delivery vehicles.

If the auditors find non-conformances, they issue a report listing each point. You will normally have 14 working days to correct the issues and submit evidence, including photographs and updated documents.

4. Approval of Halal Certificate

After the inspection, your application will be reviewed by JAKIM's Halal certification committee. If all requirements are met and no non-compliance issues are found, the committee will approve the issuance of your Halal certificate.

The digital certificate (e-Cert) will be accessible for download, printing, or digital sharing through your MYeHALAL account. This e-Cert includes secure verification features to authenticate its validity.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Halal Certificate in Malaysia?

JAKIM states that a complete and accurate application is processed within 15 to 30 working days. This period starts when your documents are accepted, not when you begin preparing, and it does not include the time needed to gather supplier certificates or schedule the audit.

Based on our experience, most businesses should plan for three to six months from the start of preparation. Manufacturers with complex operations and a long list of suppliers can take up to 12 months.

Three factors account for most of the difference:

• Supplier documentation: every ingredient needs a halal certificate from a recognized body, and one supplier who cannot provide it delays the whole application
• Audit scheduling: JAKIM sets the field audit date, and waiting times vary by state and by how many applications are in the queue
• Corrective action: if the audit finds non-conformances, you will need to fix them and submit evidence before the panel reviews your file

For a newly established company, the three-month operating requirement adds to this timeline. A company that starts production on 1 March can apply on 1 June at the earliest. With documents submitted in June and fees paid in early July, the field audit typically falls in the third quarter, and a clean audit produces an e-Cert between September and November.

You can shorten this overall timeline by using the three-month operating period to prepare.

Halal Certificate Validity and Renewal

Validity depends on your certification scheme:

Businesses with five years of clean compliance may be offered a five-year certificate at renewal.

Renewal applications can be submitted from six months before expiry and must be filed no later than three months before. If you file renewal application after that point, it will be treated as new applications. This means a new audit and a gap after expiry during which you cannot use the halal logo.

Also note that renewal applications cannot add new products, premises, or menus; those require a separate addition request.

Maintenance of Halal Certificate

Getting the approval for the halal certificate is just the starting point. JAKIM conducts both scheduled and unannounced audits of certified premises.

If officers find non-conformances during a monitoring audit, JAKIM classifies them by severity, and the consequences escalate accordingly:

• Minor: you receive a written notice and have 14 days to correct the issue

• Major: JAKIM suspends your certificate until you complete corrective action and the panel verifies it

• Serious: JAKIM withdraws your certificate, freezes your MYeHALAL account for at least three months, and may list your company publicly

If your certificate is suspended or withdrawn, you must remove the halal logo from your packaging, signage, and marketing immediately. You cannot describe your products as halal until JAKIM reinstates the certificate.

Apply for Halal Certification in Malaysia with Emerhub

Getting a Halal certificate in Malaysia can be a complex process, involving extensive documentation, audits, and regulatory requirements. Emerhub's team in Kuala Lumpur has hands on experience and handles halal certification from setup through to the audit.

If you are still setting up your business, we register your Sdn Bhd and obtain the local authority and sector licenses that JAKIM requires. 

Fill out the form below to talk to our team.