Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
JAKIM uses a rigorous process to determine Halal status
2025-05-15
The discovery of pork genes in some chocolates produced by a multinational confectionery company and its subsequent denial have sparked public outcry over the determination of halal status and who is behind it. Why are there two agencies involved in determining halal status – the Health Ministry and the Chemistry Ministry – and which one is the most authoritative?
According to JAKIM director, Datuk Othman Mustapha, only the Chemistry Department’s findings could be found considering the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual as the only highly specialised testing department with professional technical guidance.
Recognized by the Standards Bureau (recognized)
He said the Chemistry Department's laboratory has been gazetted as a competent food laboratory for food analysis. The department is also accredited by the Malaysian Standards Agency to conduct DNA testing under the Malaysian Laboratory Accreditation Standards based on the MS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health's laboratory is accredited by the Standards Agency to conduct testing on meat and seafood-based products, not processed foods.
Osman pointed out that the ministry's testing only involved samples currently on the market, which could be contaminated. Food samples should come directly from the factory, starting with the manufacturing process, taking into account the raw materials, processes, storage, and used machinery and equipment. Determining halal/haram status through analysis is not a simple matter. Society may believe that simply placing a sample under a microscope will immediately reveal the presence of implicated DNA. In an interview at the ministry's Putrajaya office, Osman explained that the process is, in reality, highly technical and requires meticulous observation and rigorous procedures that adhere to the halal "farm to table" philosophy and ensure nothing is overlooked.
Careful Audit
In order to obtain the Halal stamp, the product owner is obliged to initiate the certification process.
Osman noted that product owners can only apply for halal status through the e-Halal system after the assessment process begins. They must declare all products and materials used, including the suppliers of the materials, and whether their suppliers have halal certification or other certifications. If all raw materials have a halal certificate from JAKIM or a recognized foreign institution, that certification can be used as supporting documentation.
He said: "We are very careful about this. If there is any suspicion about the raw materials, we will take samples and send them to the chemical department for investigation and review before granting any approval. He said that the approval must also be implemented at the processing plant to ensure that all aspects of Halal requirements are met. The ingredients of the materials will be checked to see if they are marked with purchase invoice statements and evidence of product purchase and use. Osman said: "The production process also emphasizes that it includes process flow, equipment, cleanliness of the relevant environment and cleanliness requirements for workers.
Sampling inspection
Osman noted that JAKIM Malaysia has been encouraging multinational companies to implement halal assurance systems or appoint an internal supervisor to monitor their manufacturing processes and ensure compliance with halal certification requirements. He said, "We recently agreed that companies should implement their own monitoring by sending material samples to recognized (accredited) laboratories. Even if halal certificates have been issued, unannounced inspections should be conducted at least annually. Companies in high-risk industries, such as those involved in meat and poultry-based products, oils and fats, and slaughterhouses, and those without halal operating systems, halal management, or an internal halal committee, should be subject to multiple unannounced inspections per year."
If there are complaints from citizens, JAKIM will conduct surprise inspections with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, the Ministry of Health Services, Customs, and local authorities. He said, "If measures have been taken, follow-up inspections will be conducted for those that fail to comply with the MPPHM." He noted that minor violations will result in warnings, while serious violations will lead to the revocation of halal certificates.