Halal Packaging and Labelling Requirements: A Global Guide

Why Packaging Matters in Halal Compliance

Many manufacturers focus their halal compliance efforts on ingredients and production processes, overlooking a critical area: packaging and labelling. Halal packaging requirements address two distinct concerns — ensuring that packaging materials themselves do not compromise the halal status of the product, and ensuring that product labels accurately communicate halal status to consumers and regulators.

Getting packaging and labelling wrong can result in product recalls, import rejections, consumer complaints, and damage to brand credibility in halal markets. This guide covers the key requirements across major markets.

Halal Packaging Material Requirements

Packaging materials can compromise a product's halal status in several ways:

• Animal-derived adhesives: Some packaging adhesives are made from animal-based gelatin or casein. If the animal source is not halal, or if the slaughter method is not verified, these adhesives can render the packaging non-halal compliant.
• Wax coatings: Wax coatings on food packaging (such as cheese wax or fruit coatings) may be derived from animal fats. Beeswax is generally acceptable, but petroleum-based or plant-based alternatives are preferred for halal packaging.
• Ink and dyes: Some printing inks contain animal-derived ingredients, including shellac (from lac insects) and certain coloured pigments. Halal-certified packaging typically requires verification of ink composition.
• Plasticizers: Some flexible plastic packaging uses plasticizers derived from animal fats, particularly in PVC cling films. This is a technical area that requires supplier verification.

Labelling Requirements by Market

Malaysia (JAKIM)

Malaysia has the most detailed halal labelling requirements globally. The Malaysian Halal Certification Mark must be displayed according to precise specifications — minimum size, colour, placement, and the specific JAKIM or state-level logo. The Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 makes it a criminal offence to use the halal mark without valid certification. Labels must be in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

Indonesia (BPJPH)

Under the mandatory halal certification regime, products must display the official BPJPH halal label. Products that are not halal certified must carry a non-halal declaration. Label information must include the halal certificate number, certifying body, and expiry date. Labels must be in Bahasa Indonesia.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

GCC countries follow the GSO standard for halal labelling. Labels must be in Arabic (with other languages permitted as supplementary). The halal certificate number and certifying body must be visible on the label. For meat products, additional information including the country of origin, slaughterhouse name, and slaughter date is required.

European Union

The EU does not have specific halal labelling legislation. Halal claims are governed by general food labelling regulations (EU Regulation 1169/2011) and consumer protection laws that prohibit misleading claims. However, individual EU member states may have additional requirements. Manufacturers must ensure that any halal claim on a product sold in the EU is substantiated by valid certification.

United States

The US has no federal halal labelling law. Some states (including Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan, and California) have halal consumer protection laws that require disclosure of the certifying authority. The USDA does not regulate halal claims but does require accurate labelling under general food labelling rules.

Common Labelling Mistakes

• Using a halal logo without valid certification: This is illegal in many jurisdictions and damaging to brand trust everywhere.
• Displaying an expired certificate number: Labels printed with a halal certificate number must be updated when the certificate is renewed.
• Inconsistent language: Products exported to Arabic-speaking markets must have Arabic-language halal declarations, not just English.
• Missing allergen information: While not halal-specific, allergen labelling failures often overlap with halal concerns (e.g., undeclared animal-derived ingredients).

Best Practices for Global Halal Labelling

Manufacturers selling across multiple halal markets should develop a labelling compliance matrix that maps each target market's specific requirements. Key best practices include maintaining a database of halal certificate numbers and expiry dates linked to label artwork, working with packaging suppliers who understand halal requirements, and building flexibility into label designs to accommodate market-specific requirements without costly redesigns.

As halal markets mature and consumer awareness grows, packaging and labelling will continue to receive increased regulatory scrutiny. Manufacturers who invest in robust labelling compliance now will avoid costly corrections and market access disruptions later.