Reading a halal certificate and its expiry date

Read a certificate in four steps: who issued it, what it covers, when it is valid, and how the date is written. If the date is missing or old, you do not have proof for today’s kitchen. Ask for a current copy, and treat the venue as unknown until you see one.

Step 1: who issued it?

Find the issuing body’s name. A body you recognise is a start. JAKIM publishes the list of foreign halal bodies it recognises as a PDF on halal.gov.my², and you should read the current one. The version in our records took effect on 21 August 2026³; check the JAKIM page for a newer list before you fly.

A body that is not on the list is not necessarily bad, but its certificate needs more questions. See the country guides for Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Step 2: what does it cover?

Read the name and address, then the scope line. A certificate for a head office, a product range or a different branch does not prove the kitchen you are standing in. When the scope is unclear, ask the venue to confirm in writing; which arrangements to confirm in writing lists what is worth saving.

Step 3: when is it valid?

Look for two dates: the date issued and the date it expires. Both matter.

What you see	What it tells you	What to do
Issue date and expiry date, both current	The paper is in date	Check the rest of the scope
Expiry date in the past	The paper is out of date	Ask for the renewed copy
Issue date only	You cannot tell when it ends	Ask for the expiry date
No dates at all	You cannot tell if it is current	Record as unknown
Date smudged or cut off	Unreadable	Ask for a clearer copy

JAKIM states that a foreign body’s appointment is valid for three years, after which JAKIM carries out a review audit¹. That is about the body, not the venue’s certificate. A venue’s certificate has its own dates, so read both the body and the paper.

Step 4: how is the date written?

A date can hide in an unfamiliar format.

• Day-month-year and month-day-year both exist. A date like 03/04 can be read two ways.
• Some countries use an era name or a different calendar for the year.
• Some certificates carry both a Gregorian and a Hijri date.

Convert the date on your phone, then read it as day, month and year in words. If you are unsure, ask the venue to write the expiry date for you.

What to do when the date is missing or old

• Ask: “Could you send a photo of the current certificate, with the issuing body and expiry date?”
• Ask whether the certificate has been renewed, and for the renewal paper.
• Check the issuer’s own website or listing, if it has one.
• If you get no clear answer before you must order, choose a fallback: a certified venue you can read, or a vegetarian or seafood dish after sauce questions.

An old certificate does not prove the venue stopped following the standard. It proves you cannot confirm it today. The five claim states give you the right label for the gap.

Your next step

Photograph every certificate you plan to rely on, including the date. Use the dietary enquiry brief generator to write the request for a current copy, and read the halal labels hub for the rest of the evidence guides.