Malaysia Requires Halal Certificate Holders to Sign HCA with Certification Body

Terms:

Halal Certificate: The halal certificate shows that a product/service is qualified to be consumed by Muslims. It means that the food or goods (including cosmetics) do not contain any harmful, intoxicating, nor any part of matter that is forbidden by the Shariah Law and Fatwa. The halal certificates issued in Malaysia are widely recognized by most Muslim countries around the globe ^[1].

Sijil Pengesahan Halal Malaysia (SPHM): Malaysia Halal Certificate

Perjanjian Pensijilan Halal (HCA): Halal Certification Agreement

Bahagian Pengurusan Halal (BPH): Halal Management Division

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM): The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia

*JAKIM and BPH are the official halal certification bodies in Malaysia

On August 13, 2020, Halal Malaysia Official Portal released Circular Number 1 of 2020 Implementation of Halal Certification Agreement (HCA), which became effective on August 17, 2020 ^[2].

The Circular stipulates that all SPHM holders shall sign the HCA with the halal certification body to ensure the requirements stated in ISO/IEC 17065-Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes, and Services and the references applicable in the implementation of certification are complied with by both parties.

The HCA mainly includes:

• Terms definitions and interpretations

• Commencement and period of the agreement

• Client and government’s obligations

• Confidentiality

• Termination

• Claim

• Liability and indemnity

• …

In the initial phase, HCA is only subject to the holder of SPHM whose application is processed by BPH and JAKIM ^[3]. The SPHM holders who fail to sign the HCA before February 17, 2021, will be subject to Non-Conformity reprimand during the compliance audit or monitoring.

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