88 overseas halal certification bodies were recognized by JAKIM
SHAH ALAM: The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) has given recognition to 88 overseas halal certification bodies as of May this year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said the number involved 49 countries, including China, South Korea and Japan.
He said the body is responsible for issuing halal certificates for foreign products that enter the market in Malaysia.
“The mechanism for halal certification at the international level is through the recognition by JAKIM as the authority in this country to foreign halal certification bodies.
“Based on the rapid development of the global halal industry, we expect the number of applications and those recognized to continue to increase from time to time,” he said when meeting after inaugurating the ‘Halal Food: World Taste’ program here on Saturday.
Meanwhile, regarding the issue of the use of fake halal certificates, Mohd Na’im said the situation is still under control with enforcement carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cost of Living (KPDN) in accordance with the Trade Information Act 2011.
He said that JAKIM, as the agency responsible for halal certification, always cooperates with KPDN in implementing enforcement against fake halal certificates.
According to him, cases of the use of fake halal certificates are mostly detected involving public markets, grocery stores and small supermarkets.
“If JAKIM receives a complaint, this agency will coordinate with KPDN to monitor and enforce the law, but so far we have found that the situation is under control,” he said.
— BERNAMA