08 COVER STORY
@ Halal | January-February . 2025
08 COVER STORY
Halal certification , redefined
JAKIM is working towards a more business-friendly halal certification system
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BY ZAFIRAH ZAFRUDDIN
When we talk about halal , people will look at JAKIM ,” said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department ( JAKIM ) Director-General Dato ’ Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee .
Malaysia ’ s halal industry is growing rapidly , presenting new opportunities for businesses . Halal certification applications have increased by 26.09 per cent between 2023 and 2024 , with applications rising from 15,612 to 19,686 , totalling over 4,000 more applications .
Approvals also rose by 4.41 per cent , from 10,451 in 2023 to 10,912 in 2024 .
The observed increase in halal certification applications and approvals is a result of the shared efforts of JAKIM and state-level authorities .
Sirajuddin credited the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato ’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for this significant growth : “ The Halal On Track ( HOT ) programme , introduced under his guidance , has been a game-changer .
“ It has enabled us to engage with businesses across all states , address their concerns , and streamline the certification process .”
Launched in Aug 2023 , HOT is designed to equip businesses with information , guidance , and training needed to navigate the evolving landscape of halal certification .
“ The public has minimal knowledge about the certification process . They often perceived it as complicated and difficult to navigate .”
“ Some even gave up on obtaining certification without even consulting the relevant authorities .”
In order to increase businesses ’ understanding of the process , JAKIM collaborates with key industry stakeholders like the Halal Development Corporation ( HDC ), halal training providers , and other strategic partners . In the long run , this will lead to fewer rejected applications .
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
At present , JAKIM is working closely with technical experts to upgrade MYeHALAL to MYeHALAL 2.0 .
“ The system , which is currently under development , will leverage artificial intelligence ( AI ) to streamline and automate certain aspects of the halal certification process .
“ AI will help enhance application processing efficiency and audit accuracy , ultimately