In Malaysia, Muslim customers want to be sure that the food they buy is truly halal. For sellers, a valid halal certificate is the clearest way to give that assurance. This article explains what a halal certificate is, why it matters and what to check as a seller.
What is a halal certificate?
A halal certificate is issued by a recognised religious authority — the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) or a State Islamic Religious Council or Department. Before it is issued, the premises, ingredients and processes are inspected to make sure they all meet halal requirements.
The main reference standard for food is MS 1500:2019, Halal food — General requirements (Third revision), published by the Department of Standards Malaysia. It covers the requirements for manufacturing and handling halal food.
Halal is also a legal requirement
Since 1 January 2012, the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011 and the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 have been in force under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011. Under these rules, food may not be described as halal unless it is certified by the competent authority and displays that authority’s halal logo.
This means that simply writing the word “halal”, or using a home-made halal logo, is not enough — and can even break the law.
Why it matters for your business
- Customer confidence. Customers don’t need to ask or wonder — a valid logo already answers the question.
- A wider market. Halal products can be sold to every customer, including Muslim consumers, who make up a large share of the market in Malaysia.
- More places to sell. Some bulk buyers, canteens and event organisers only accept suppliers with halal certification.
- Better-run operations. The certification process encourages better hygiene, ingredient records and process control.
What sellers should check
- Make sure the certificate is still valid — certificates have an expiry date and must be renewed before it.
- Check that every ingredient, including sauces, marinades and flour, comes from a halal source.
- Store and handle halal ingredients separately from non-halal ones.
- If you sell a supplier’s products, ask for a copy of the supplier’s halal certificate and check that it is still valid.
- Display halal information honestly — never use a halal logo without valid certification.
Selling halal-certified products does not automatically make your stall or premises halal-certified. Premises certification is a separate process.
Uncle Best’s halal commitment
Uncle Best holds official halal certification from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) under the MS 1500 standard. Production is controlled in our own factory, and every stage — from production and logistics to the hands of our customers — follows the required halal standards.
See the full details on our Halal page.