KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, through the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), will not compromise on its strict halal standards following the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States (US), says Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said according to Article 2.5 of the ART, all foreign halal certification bodies, including those in the US, remain fully subject to Malaysia’s Syariah procedures and halal standards.
"The clause only allows for the use of halal logos issued by certification bodies recognised by Jakim, for administrative purposes and to facilitate the approval process.
"However, all auditing, monitoring, and final verification processes will remain entirely under Jakim’s control," he said in his winding up speech for the 2026 Supply Bill at the committee stage, here on Wednesday (Nov 5).
For slaughterhouses producing meat and poultry products intended for export to Malaysia, halal approval will only be granted after an audit is conducted in accordance with the Malaysian Standards and Protocol for Halal Meat and Poultry Production, he said.
"Such audits must be carried out with the participation of at least two syariah officers from a Jakim-recognised halal certification body, and the audit report must then be verified by a committee appointed by Jakim," he explained.
Any foreign halal certification body seeking to maintain its recognition by Jakim must fully comply with all Malaysian requirements, including those relating to syariah, safety, hygiene, and auditing procedures, without exception, stressed Mohd Na'im.
He said the recognition of halal certificates from the US does not mean any relaxation of Malaysia’s halal standards.
"Rather, it serves to streamline administrative processes and strengthen bilateral trade relations.
"All imported products will continue to be subject to Jakim’s audit and verification, ensuring that Malaysia’s halal certification standards remain intact and uncompromised under any circumstances," he said.
Recognition of any foreign halal certification body will only be granted after a comprehensive audit process confirming full compliance with Malaysian halal standards, he said.
He said that all international agreements signed by Malaysia are subject to existing national laws and regulations.
When asked whether any non-compliance could lead to the revocation of the halal logo, the minister said that under the new agreement, Jakim will continue to maintain strict oversight over halal certification in the US.
"Previously, Jakim would send its own auditors to inspect every company or slaughterhouse in the US seeking halal approval. With the new arrangement, two certified bodies in the US have been officially recognised by Jakim to carry out halal audits and certification in accordance with Malaysia’s standards.
"If either of these Jakim-recognised certification bodies is found to have violated existing halal standard operating procedures, Jakim reserves the right to revoke their recognition.
"Such revocation would, by extension, affect the halal status of the slaughterhouses or facilities certified by those bodies," he said.
When pressed to reveal the name of the two certified bodies and when Jakim gave such approval to carry out halal audits, he said he would clarify the matter once he received more feedback from Jakim.
