THE Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has reiterated that the national halal standards are consistent, uncompromising, and rooted in Islamic principles, regardless of the origin of imported meat and related products.
Senior Director of the International Branch, Halal Management Division of JAKIM, Muhammad Naim Mohd Aziz, stated that the existing halal framework has been developed over decades and continues to serve as the primary reference for certification processes.
“The foundation of the halal standard we have developed lies in compliance with Shariah law,” he told Bernama TV.
“Its complementary aspects are cleanliness and toyyiban (wholesomeness and safety),” he added.
Muhammad Naim explained that halal certification is only granted to foreign slaughterhouses that fully comply with three essential documents: the Malaysian Standard, the Malaysian Protocol, and the Import Protocol issued by the Department of Veterinary Services.
“The most basic requirement is that the facility must exclusively process halal animals, without any mixing with doubtful or non-halal sources,” he said.
“A slaughterhouse or animal processing facility will only be approved if it processes halal animals alone.”
In addition, every facility is required to implement an internal halal control system, which includes having Muslim slaughterers, halal inspectors, and supervisors responsible for overseeing the entire process, from the intake of live animals through to the packaging stage.
“They must have a halal supervisor who will assess whether the slaughter is performed correctly, and we also require the facility to appoint a supervisor to monitor all activities within the slaughterhouse,” he said.
“This means that from the arrival of the animals, slaughter, inspection, cutting and packaging, until the products are ready to be dispatched or moved from the facility to the next location, each stage will be meticulously audited,” Muhammad Naim explained. - August 15, 2025
