Which destinations have JAKIM-recognised halal certifiers?
You are holding a halal certificate abroad and want to know whether Malaysia recognises who issued it.
Eight popular Malaysian holiday destinations have bodies on JAKIM’s list of recognised foreign certifiers, but the list is the authority, not this page. Use the names below to know what to look for on a certificate, then confirm them on the official PDF before you fly.
Where is the official list?
JAKIM publishes the list as a PDF on its halal portal3. The edition we read took effect on 21 August 20261. It covers 49 countries or regions2.
Appointments are not permanent. A body is appointed for three years and then audited again4, and recognised bodies must send JAKIM an annual report5. So a name that was valid last year may have changed. Check the date on the edition you open.
Which destinations have recognised names?
These are the bodies the list names for destinations Malaysians visit most.
- Japan: six bodies, namely JMA, JHA, JIT, MPJA, NAHA and JHF6.
- South Korea: Korea Muslim Federation and Korea Halal Authority Corporation7.
- Taiwan: THIDA and the Taiwan Halal Certification Development Co.8
- Thailand: The Central Islamic Council of Thailand, based in Bangkok9.
- Vietnam: five bodies, including HCA, HVN and VINAHIC14.
- Philippines: IDCP and HDIP15.
- China: six regional bodies, including Shandong, Henan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing and Shanghai services12.
- Turkiye: KASCERT International and GIMDES13.
Two places are listed differently. Indonesia is recognised through its government authority, BPJPH10, and Singapore through MUIS11. If your stop is not in this section, such as Hong Kong or Brunei, open the PDF and search for it rather than guessing.
How do you match a certificate to the list?
| Step | What you do | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photograph the certificate and note the issuer’s name | Who stands behind the claim |
| 2 | Search that name on the official PDF | Whether Malaysia recognises it |
| 3 | Read the branch, product scope and expiry date | Whether it covers this kitchen today |
If step 2 fails, you have a declared claim, not a recognised one. Our guide to the five halal claim states explains what to do with that.
What a recognised body does not tell you
Recognition is about the issuer. It says nothing about a restaurant that never applied, a branch the certificate does not name, or a certificate that lapsed last month.
It also does not replace your own standard. If your family draws the line differently, agree it before the trip. For a fiqh question, ask your own ustaz or your state mufti office.
What to send a venue before you book
Copy this message and send it to the restaurant, hotel or tour operator.
- “Which halal certification body issued your certificate, and what is the expiry date?”
- “Does it name this branch and this kitchen?”
- “Can you send a clear photo of the certificate?”
For a group, ask for the same answer from every stop and keep the replies together. The meal-assurance comparison tool lets you line up the answers side by side.
Where to go next
If the certifier is only one of your worries, the guide on which Asian countries make halal meals easiest sets destinations side by side by claim state. For Singapore and Brunei specifically, read how those systems compare with the Malaysian one. Everything else on this topic sits in choosing where to go.
If you are organising a group and want the certifier names for each stop checked against JAKIM's current list, message us the route and we will help you build the question list.
Common questions
Does a certificate from a recognised body make the restaurant fine for everyone?
It gives you a body Malaysia already recognises, which is stronger evidence than a sign. It does not settle your own standard, and it covers only what the certificate names. Check the branch, the expiry date and the product scope, then decide by your own line or your ustaz's advice.
What if the issuing body is not on the list?
Treat the claim as declared, not certified, until you have asked more. Some bodies may be new, regional or local arms of a listed body, so ask the restaurant which body stands behind the certificate. Then compare that name with the current official list before you rely on it.
Why is Indonesia listed as an authority and not a body?
The list recognises a government authority for Indonesia, and Singapore too, rather than a private certifier. The practical point is the same: look for the issuer's name on the certificate and match it to the list. Which type it is only changes the name you are searching for.
How often does the list change?
Each appointment runs for three years and is then audited again, so names can move on or off. The list we describe took effect in August 2026. Open the official PDF on the JAKIM portal before every trip, especially if you are booking a group.
Can a group organiser rely on this page alone?
No. Use this page to know where to look, then confirm names on the official list and ask each venue for its certificate in writing. Keep a copy with your trip file so that every member of the group can see the same evidence before the meal.
Sources
- JAKIM's list titled The Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities was effective from 21 August 2026 (8 Rabiulawal 1448H), as gazetted under the Trade Descriptions Act (Certification and Marking of Halal Order) 2011. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- The 21 August 2026 JAKIM list of recognised foreign halal certification bodies and authorities has a table of contents covering 49 countries or regions, from Argentina to Vietnam. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- JAKIM publishes the foreign halal certification body list as a PDF at halal.gov.my/pdf/cb/FHCB21August2026.pdf, linked from the Foreign Halal Certification Body section of the halal.gov.my portal. Malaysia Halal Portal (halal.gov.my)
- JAKIM states a foreign halal certification body's appointment is valid for three years, after which JAKIM carries out a review audit. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- Recognised foreign halal certification bodies must submit an annual report to JAKIM and are listed on JAKIM's website. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list recognises six Japanese bodies: Japan Muslim Association (JMA), NPO Japan Halal Association (JHA), Japan Islamic Trust (JIT), Muslim Professional Japan Association (MPJA), Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA) and Japan Halal Foundation (JHF). JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list recognises two South Korean bodies: Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), Seoul, and Korea Halal Authority Corporation (KHA), Cheongju. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list recognises two Taiwanese bodies: Taiwan Halal Integrity Development Association (THIDA), Taipei, and Taiwan Halal Certification Development Co., Ltd (THCD), Kaohsiung. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026). Chinese Muslim Association (CMA) does not appear in this list.
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list recognises one Thai body, The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT), based in Bangkok. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026). Halal Standards Institute of Thailand does not appear in this list.
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list names Chinese bodies including Shandong Halal Certification Service (SHC), ARA Halal Certification Services Centre (Henan), Linxia Halal Food Certification Centre (Gansu), Shaanxi Shang Pin Yuan (SSPY), Halal Certification Services Chongqing (HCS) and Shanghai Global Halal Certification Service (SGH). JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026). Entries 19-24 verified; China section spans pages 15-16.
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list recognises two bodies in Turkiye: KASCERT International (Izmir) and the Association for the Inspection and Certification of Food and Supplies (GIMDES), Istanbul. JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026). HAK does not appear in this list.
- JAKIM's recognised list includes five Vietnamese bodies: Halal Certification Agency (HCA), Vietnam Halal Company Limited (HVN), Vietnam National Halal Company Limited (VNH), Halal Certification And Assessment Company Limited (VINAHIC) and Global Halal Certification Company Limited (GHC). Vietnam News
- JAKIM's 21 August 2026 list includes the Philippine bodies Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines (IDCP) and Halal Development Institute of the Philippines (HDIP). JAKIM, Recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities (effective 21 August 2026)
Keep planning
If you are organising a group and want the certifier names for each stop checked against JAKIM's current list, message us the route and we will help you build the question list.