KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) holds the ultimate authority to revoke the recognition of halal certification bodies from the United States if they fail to comply with national standards, Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr. Na’im Mokhtar stated in Parliament.
The minister clarified that under Article 2.5 of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the US, all foreign halal certifiers are wholly subject to Malaysian Shariah procedures and halal protocols.
Jakim’s Oversight and Enforcement Power
Na’im explained that the halal logo granted to recognized international bodies is primarily for administrative facilitation. However, the critical processes of auditing, monitoring, and final verification remain firmly under Jakim’s control.
“Should Jakim’s audits uncover any breaches of our standards, the department holds the power to withdraw its recognition from the certified body,” he said during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2026 for his ministry.
This reaffirmation of regulatory oversight ensures that the integrity of the halal certification process is maintained, regardless of the certifying body’s origin.
Crackdown on Unauthorized Body
In a related development, the minister addressed the issue of an organization known as Muslim Friendly Watch (MFW). Na’im confirmed that the body has been instructed to immediately cease all use of any halal logos or “Muslim Choice” statements that could potentially mislead consumers.
This action follows reports that MFW has officially initiated the process to dissolve itself under the Societies Act 1966, a move that came after significant public scrutiny on its activities.