Halal Encyclopedia

Recognition is a perennial issue in the certification field. Due to its unique characteristics, Halal certification's degree of recognition is constrained by different target markets. We sincerely inform you that, based on our years of experience, there is no single, universally recognized Halal certification body globally. This limitation is primarily due to differing policies in different target markets. So, how do you choose a Halal certification body that's universally recognized? First, you need to determine your target market.

The top three countries for Indonesia's imports are China, Singapore and Japan. In 2018, Indonesia's imports from these three countries accounted for 24.1%, 11.4% and 9.5% of Indonesia's total imports respectively.Indonesia is the worldIndonesia is the country with the largest number of halal consumers. With the continuous rise in consumption levels among Indonesians, China-Indonesia trade has reached hundreds of trillions of yuan. Therefore, Indonesia's halal market policies influence the halal certification strategies of Chinese food companies. According to Indonesia's official list of recognized halal certification bodies, Singapore's MUIS-Halal and China's APHC-Halal are the only two halal certification bodies recognized by the Indonesian government. For Chinese companies, choosing either MUIS-Halal or APHC-Halal certification, which is suitable for the Indonesian market, is undoubtedly the best choice.

As the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic ties with China, Malaysia has now replaced Singapore as China's largest trading partner within ASEAN, while China has become Malaysia's largest source of imports and second-largest export market. In 2018, bilateral trade in goods between Malaysia and China reached US$77.77 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14.8%, maintaining a high growth rate. Given the deep foundation of China-Malaysia relations and the Malaysian government's continued support and active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral trade cooperation between China and Malaysia is expected to continue to thrive.Malaysia, Southeast Asia's most dynamic economy, holds a central position in the global halal economy. Halal certification, essential for market entry, is driving Chinese food companies to pursue halal certification. China's HFC-Halal certification has been recognized by the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHIA), a Malaysian standardization and accreditation body. This recognition means companies can choose to enter the Malaysian market through HFC-Halal certification. The advantages of HFC-Halal certification lie in its efficient halal certification team and globally transparent traceability system.

The Middle East, connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, lies at the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative and is a key participant in its development. In recent years, with the steady progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's economic and trade relations with Middle Eastern countries have continued to deepen. Known as the "world's oil depot," the Middle East not only provides a crucial guarantee for my country's energy security, but also represents a market with enormous potential for my country's foreign trade.In recent years, with the development of China's all-encompassing diplomacy and the continued advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, economic and trade exchanges between China and Middle Eastern countries have become increasingly close. Numerous agreements have been signed in areas such as economy, infrastructure development, science and technology, and cultural exchange, driving rapid growth in bilateral trade. Statistics show that China's import and export trade with the Middle East increased from less than $6 billion in 1995 to nearly $170 billion in 2008, and further to over $270 billion in 2018. From January to September 2019, bilateral trade reached nearly $210 billion, and it is projected to exceed $280 billion for the entire year.Gulf StatesThe Cooperation Council is the main organization for halal certification and recognition in the Middle East. Singapore's MUIS-Halal Certification Agency is the only designated halal certification agency in the Free Trade Agreement (technical terms) signed between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Singapore. This official recognition shows that companies that have passed the MUIS-Halal certification are recognized by the halal market in the Gulf countries.