How to Get JAKIM Halal Certification: Step-by-Step Application Guide (2026)

JAKIM — Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia — issues what is widely regarded as the most internationally recognised halal certificate in the world. JAKIM certification is accepted across 71 OIC member countries, including all six Gulf Cooperation Council states, Indonesia (via mutual recognition with BPJPH), and a growing list of non-OIC markets including Japan and South Korea. For any company seeking meaningful market access in Southeast Asia or the broader Muslim world, understanding how JAKIM certification works is a commercial necessity.

This guide covers the full JAKIM application process for 2026 — from pre-application requirements through to certificate maintenance — for both Malaysian domestic companies and foreign manufacturers seeking JAKIM recognition.

What JAKIM Is and Why Its Certificate Matters

JAKIM operates under the Prime Minister's Department and has served as Malaysia's central halal authority since 1994. It oversees Malaysia's Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the halal standard framework (MS 1500:2019 for food, MS 2400 for non-food, MS 2424 for pharmaceuticals), and the MyHDL (MyHalal Digital Logistics) digital certification portal.

What makes JAKIM's certificate commercially significant beyond Malaysia is its network of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs). JAKIM has MRAs with certification bodies in the UAE (ESMA), Saudi Arabia (SASO), Indonesia (BPJPH), and a range of OIC member states. It also maintains a list of approved overseas certification bodies — including IFANCA USA, IFANCA UK, HFCE Australia, and several European bodies — whose certificates it accepts for imported products. This MRA network means a JAKIM certificate is a passport into markets that might otherwise require separate local certification.

Who Can Apply for JAKIM Halal Certification

JAKIM certifies two categories of applicants:

• Malaysian-registered companies: Any company registered with SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) operating a food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, consumer goods, or food service business in Malaysia. Halal certification is not legally mandatory for all products sold in Malaysia, but it is effectively required for mainstream retail distribution, government procurement, and export.
• Foreign companies: Overseas manufacturers seeking JAKIM recognition to export products to Malaysia or to use JAKIM certification in third-country markets must apply through one of JAKIM's approved overseas certification bodies, not directly through JAKIM itself. A US beef processor seeking to export to Malaysia, for example, must first obtain certification from an IFANCA-certified facility, and IFANCA's certification is then recognised under JAKIM's approved body framework.

The domestic application path (for Malaysian companies) is described step-by-step below.

Pre-Application Requirements

Before a company can submit a JAKIM halal certification application, four conditions must be met:

1. Valid SSM registration — the company must be a registered entity in Malaysia. Branch offices and subsidiaries of foreign companies must be separately registered with SSM.
2. All ingredients must be halal-compliant — JAKIM maintains a list of pre-approved ingredients and a separate list of prohibited or uncertain (mashbooh) ingredients on the halal.gov.my portal. Every ingredient in every product must be either on the approved list or explicitly reviewed and cleared. Ingredient lists must identify the source (plant, animal, chemical synthesis) for all items.
3. Production facility separation — halal production lines must be physically separated from any non-halal production. Shared production equipment for halal and non-halal products requires a validated cleaning protocol, which JAKIM will inspect and may require supporting documentation for.
4. Internal Halal Committee (IHC) must be appointed — a company applying for JAKIM certification must have a functioning Internal Halal Committee with at least one Muslim member in a supervisory role. The IHC is responsible for monitoring halal compliance internally between JAKIM audits. JAKIM will interview IHC members during the facility inspection.

The JAKIM Application Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Register on MyHDL (MyHalal Digital Logistics)

All JAKIM halal certification applications are submitted through the MyHDL portal at halal.gov.my. First-time applicants must create a company account and have their registration verified against SSM records. The portal is in Bahasa Malaysia with English support; non-Malay-speaking applicants are advised to engage a halal consultant familiar with the system to navigate document naming conventions and portal field requirements.

Step 2: Submit Company and Product Documentation

The MyHDL portal requires a comprehensive documentation package:

• SSM registration certificate
• Business premises licence
• Complete ingredient list for each product, with supplier information and halal certificates for all animal-derived ingredients
• Product flow chart (step-by-step production process from raw material receipt to finished product)
• Factory floor plan and photos showing production areas, storage, and cleaning stations
• Internal Halal Committee appointment letter and member details (including IC/passport numbers)
• Halal-related SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) documents for the facility

Incomplete submissions are the most common cause of application delays. JAKIM's review team will issue a deficiency notice — and the clock on the 14-working-day review period restarts from the date of resubmission.

Step 3: JAKIM Document Review

Once a complete submission is received, JAKIM's halal certification division reviews the documentation. The review covers ingredient compliance, production process adherence to MS 1500:2019, and IHC documentation adequacy. The standard review period is 14 working days, though complex applications (multiple product lines, pharmaceutical formulations, or applications involving non-standard ingredients) can take longer. Applicants can track status through the MyHDL portal.

Step 4: Facility Inspection

After successful document review, JAKIM schedules a physical inspection of the production facility. The inspection is conducted by a JAKIM halal officer and typically covers:

• Physical separation of halal and non-halal areas
• Ingredient storage and labelling
• Cleaning and sanitation protocols
• IHC member interview
• Production records and supplier documentation review (physical file audit)
• Slaughter inspection for abattoirs (separate inspection process for meat processing facilities)

Facilities with non-conformances identified during inspection receive a corrective action requirement. The applicant must submit evidence of corrective action before the application proceeds to committee review.

Step 5: JAKIM Committee Deliberation

Passed applications are presented to JAKIM's halal certification committee for deliberation. The committee meets on a scheduled basis — typically monthly for standard applications. The committee makes the formal determination on certification and may approve, defer, or reject the application.

Step 6: Certificate Issuance

Approved applications result in the issuance of a JAKIM halal certificate. Certificates are product-specific and facility-specific: a certificate for Product A at Facility X does not cover Product B at the same facility. The certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue.

Costs and Timelines

JAKIM's application fee schedule (as of the 2024 schedule published at halal.gov.my) runs RM500–RM1,000 per product category, depending on the category and number of products. Food and beverage applications fall in the lower band; pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications attract higher fees. Inspection travel costs for facilities outside the Klang Valley may also be charged.

Total timeline from a complete submission to certificate issuance typically runs 3–6 months. The main variables are: inspection scheduling (facilities in East Malaysia or remote areas take longer to schedule), corrective action turnaround time if non-conformances are found, and committee meeting frequency. Companies with time-sensitive export contracts should build a 6-month buffer.

Common causes of delay include: ingredient documentation gaps (missing halal certificates for animal-derived ingredients from suppliers), facility non-conformances requiring physical remediation, and IHC documentation that doesn't meet JAKIM's requirements.

Maintaining Your JAKIM Certificate

Certification is not a one-time achievement. JAKIM requires:

• Annual surveillance audit — JAKIM conducts an unannounced or scheduled inspection within the two-year certificate period to verify ongoing compliance
• Renewal application 3 months before expiry — late renewal applications result in a certificate lapse; during the lapse period, the company cannot legitimately use the JAKIM logo or claim JAKIM certification
• Change notification within 30 days — any change to ingredients, suppliers, production process, or facility layout must be reported to JAKIM within 30 days. Unreported changes discovered during audit can result in certificate suspension

Alternatives When JAKIM Certification Is Not Accessible

For smaller companies or those in early-stage compliance readiness, there are bridging options:

• State Religious Departments (Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri) — each Malaysian state's Islamic affairs department can issue halal certificates for businesses operating within that state. These are not equivalent to JAKIM nationally-issued certificates, but they are recognised for local market operations and can serve as a stepping stone while a company prepares for JAKIM.
• JAKIM-accredited private certification bodies — JAKIM maintains a list of accredited private halal certification bodies that can certify on JAKIM's behalf for certain product categories. Check the halal.gov.my portal for the current approved list.
• SIRIM QAS International — for technical and industrial products (packaging materials, industrial equipment used in food production), SIRIM QAS offers halal certification with JAKIM recognition for specific product types.

Finding JAKIM-Certified Companies on HalalExpo

For buyers who want to source from JAKIM-certified suppliers directly, the HalalExpo directory lists Malaysian companies across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic categories. The certifier profile page for JAKIM provides additional context on the certification framework.

View the JAKIM certifier profile on HalalExpo →

Browse JAKIM-certified Malaysian food companies →