Halal Certification Procedure in Penang 

Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department is the competent authority being responsible for issuing Halal Certification and Halal Logos to food manufacturers, food outlets and abattoirs in Penang.

The Halal certification will be issued when the manufacturers comply with the requirement of Malaysian Standard (MS 1500:2004) – Standards for Halal food – Production, Preparation, Handling and Storage.

Application who are eligible to apply for Halal Certification are categorized as follows:

i. F & B manufacturers/personal care products (manufacturer/producers)
ii. Sub-contract manufacturers
ii. Repacking company
iii. Food premises
iv. Abattoirs
v. Logistics company

Term and Conditions

A: Manufacturing company

1. The company must be registered to The Companies of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia or SSM) 
2. Have a valid operating license from local authorities 
3. The company must have at least 2 Muslim employee (Malaysia citizen) involved in the kitchen section /handling /processing of food 
4. Manufacturer /company should produce Halal products only Have a valid certificate from the local authorities (Department of Veterinary) for slaughtering of livestock (Abattoir application) 
5. Food premises must not sell liquor/ prohibited items

B: Products

1. The products sold must not be Haram products (prohibited in Islam) 
2. Additional health supplements added to be products must be approved by Ministry of Health (MOH) / National Drug Control Authority

1. Every food manufacturer/ food premises/ abattoir must only produce/ manufacture/ sell halal products only 
2. Every applicant must ensure that sources of ingredients are halal and deal with suppliers which supply halal materials or the suppliers are halal certification certificate holders 
3. Every company must abide to the procedures in all aspects as spelt out in the procedures manual
4. Those companies which are classified under multinational and Small and Medium industry must form an internal Halal Audit Committee and appoint one Islamic Affairs executive (Islamic studies) to handle and ensure the compliance of halal certification procedures 
5. At least there must be two full time muslim workers, Malaysian citizen being employed in kitchen section/ handling/ processing of food 
6. During the preparation, handling, processing, packaging or transporting of products , the product must be clean and free from any non halal ingredient 
7. Apparatus and facilities in the premises must be clean and free from being contaminated by substance considered as najis (filthy) or harmful to health 
8. The transportation for halal products should be separated from the non-Halal products 
9. The company must stress on the cleanliness of tools, transportation, production area and surrounding area in line with Good Manufacturing Practice 
10. All workers are required to practice code of etiquettes and good hygiene practices as follows: 
    • All employees are required to get medical injection (i.e. Tetanus injection) from any medical centre recognized by the Government before and after being employed. 
    • All workers are required to practice good health care and personal hygiene especially those who work as production operators. 
    • Any worker who is sick or injured any may affect the product quality must not be allowed to work until he/she recovers. 
    • Workers are not allowed to touch bare-handedly any raw material or semi-finished product. 
    • Activities which may affect the production quality like smoking, eating, drinking, storing food, drink, medicine and others must be done in a special area and away from the production area. 
    • Religious worshipping items are strictly forbidden in the premise/ food processing area.

 How to apply Halal Certification?

• Online application can be made by logging on to www.halal.gov.my and completing the appropriate documents
• Supported documents should be addressed directly to: 

  Halal Management Division

  Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang

  Lebuh Pantai,

  10300 Penang

• The applicants must complete the application forms by furnishing all the information as required and the following certificates/ documents must be enclosed together with the application form.
  • A copy of company’s registration certificate
  • Copy of operative license from local authority
  • A copy of company’s financial statements
  • Copy of the identification card (IC) of 2 permanent Muslim employees (Malaysian citizen) and their letter of appointment
  • Letter of approval from National Drug Authority/Ministry of Health for health products/food supplements.
  • A copy of import permits for imported animal-based raw materials.
  • Copies of halal certification for individual ingredients used.
  • Location/map of the operating premises
  • Samples of labels for the products that will be verified Halal
  • Factory Layout Plan

Processing Fee /Service charge

Processing fee charged to applicants has the validity period of 2 years. The fee will be imposed for every new application, renewal, product addition and branch addition (food premises).

Note:

• Cost for the analysis and lab test on the products and ingredients will be borne by the applicant. 
• Lab test must be carried out at Government lab or recognized private lab.

Term and Condition for the Usage of Halal Certification and Logo

• Halal certificate cannot be negotiable, lendable, transferable, forged, misused or altered in any way. 
• The use of Halal certification is bound by all laws or regulations practiced in this country. 
• The certificate holder must notify in writing to Director, Halal Hub Division, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) or Director of State Islamic Department/ Secretary of State Islamic Council for further action, should there be any change of name and address of the company, factory/premise, product brand, ingredients, manufacturer’s details and any relevant information. 
• The certificate holder is liable on any misuse or fraudulence of the certificate which is subject to laws. In the event of any loss or damage to the certificate, the holder is required to lodge a police report and notify in writing immediately to Director, Halal Hub Division, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) or Director of State Islamic Department/ Secretary of State Islamic Council. 
• Halal certification can be revoked or terminated at any time and the use o Halal logo is forbidden when there is a contravention of the Malaysia Halal Certification Procedures or there are suspicious matters or the handling of products is against the syariah compliance. 
• Halal Hub Division, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM)/JAIN/MAIN may blacklist any company which fails to abide to the terms and conditions of Malaysia Halal Certification procedures and it may only be satisfied with the compliance. 
• Applicants are required to display the original halal certificate within their operating premises. 
• Penalty of RM250,000.00 or imprisonment will be imposed to applicant who abuses the Halal logo under Akta Perihal Dagangan 1972.

Renewal of Halal Certification

Submission of Halal certification for renewal process should be submitted at least 3 months before the expiry date along with a complete application form and other relevant documents.

Flow Chart of the process for Halal Certification