Kuala Lumpur: The establishment of the International Halal Authority Board (IHAB) has confirmed Malaysia's position as a global Halal food leader by recognizing foreign authorities and Halal certification bodies.

Fuziah Salleh, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Religious Affairs, said the body is part of a JAKIM initiative aimed at safeguarding the interests of Halal consumers through Halal certification of Halal food and services.

'IHAB, made up of government organizations and Halal certification bodies from 45 countries, can move toward unification and harmonization in the process of implementing Halal certification in most countries/regions in the world.

She said: 'As of December 3, 2019, JAKIM has recognized 78 Halal certification bodies from relevant countries, with recognition based on compliance with and implementation of Halal standards consistent with Malaysian characteristics and patterns.'

She was answering a question from Awang Hashim (PAS-Pendang), who asked how the government plans to enhance JAKIM's role in Halal certification.

Fuziah said the recognition has indirectly become a coordination mechanism at the international level, and these Halal certification bodies must accept Malaysia's Halal standards.

She also announced that at the IHAB General Assembly on April 1, Malaysia had been appointed Chairman and Secretary General of IHAB for the 2019-2021 term.

Speaking about the BMF, she said Malaysia has, through Halal service bodies, agreed to help promote Halal products sought by Halal enterprises, including through media platforms.

'The focus is on Halal certification, which covers all aspects, including ingredients, the preparation process, the purity of equipment, the cleanliness of the premises, prioritizing handling that complies with Islamic law, as well as safety, quality and integrity assurance of products or services,' she said.

In answering a question from Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) about the government's measures to supervise Halal products in the market, Fuziah said JAKIM always conducts regular monitoring to ensure the Halal logo is not misused.

She said a Halal directory has also been established through the portal www.halal.gov.my or through the 'Smart Halal' and 'Verify Halal' applications, to allow users to check the Halal status of products in the market. — Bernama

FAQ

How does the International Halal Authority Board (IHAB) consolidate Malaysia's Halal certification leadership?
IHAB is part of a JAKIM initiative, made up of government organizations and Halal certification bodies from 45 countries, and can move the Halal certification process in most countries toward unification and harmonization. As of December 3, 2019, JAKIM had recognized 78 Halal certification bodies from relevant countries (based on their compliance with and implementation of Halal standards consistent with Malaysian characteristics). At the IHAB General Assembly, Malaysia was appointed Chairman and Secretary General of IHAB for the 2019-2021 term.
How can Malaysian consumers check the Halal status of products?
JAKIM has established a Halal directory through the portal www.halal.gov.my, or through the 'Smart Halal' and 'Verify Halal' applications, allowing users to check the Halal status of products in the market. JAKIM also conducts regular monitoring to ensure the Halal logo is not misused.