THE Malaysia Halal Industry Development Council has decided that starting early next year, application and renewal procedures for halal certificates will be simplified, with the approval or feedback period shortened to only 23 working days. 

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was made after receiving many complaints that the approval and issuance of halal certificates took too long – between nine months and two years. 

In a press conference after chairing the Malaysia Halal Industry Development Council meeting today, Zahid said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC) would work closely to ensure the move could be implemented. 

He said one of the factors causing the halal certificate application period to take a long time was constraints faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (PMKS) in meeting conditions set by the Jakim Halal Certification Division. 

“There is a problem with the application submitted by PMKS; perhaps the conditions cannot be met, especially in terms of modifying or upgrading premises for product production places. It may be quite expensive, but we will coordinate the problems faced,” he said. 

For a start, Zahid said HDC and related parties would implement a new halal certificate application process through “proof of concept” (POC) involving five hotels around Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, to see how the process went. 

“Implement POC within two months; after two months we are going to start 23 working days as the new benchmark for halal certification to be issued,” he said. 

Zahid also commented on strengthening halal diplomacy to promote local halal products and services abroad.  

“We have to get out of the cocoon of the domestic market of halal products. The Foreign Ministry and MITI (Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry) have planned that halal diplomacy can be done jointly, in official visits and working visits of both ministries, and with the prime minister and other ministers involved. 

“We have at least three agreements at the international level which have halal elements in them, and we will be proactive with all the agencies involved, especially the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation, HDC, and Jakim, to implement this halal diplomacy,” he said. – Bernama, October 3, 2023.