Jakim's Halal Certification Highly Regarded By International Community - Deputy Minister

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia) March 29 (Bernama) -- The Halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is highly regarded by the international community due to its outstanding credibility, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. "To obtain the Halal certification from Jakim, an institution must undergo a rigorous process, because Jakim not only focuses on the halal aspects, but also in terms of cleanliness or 'toyyiban'," he said. A total of 54 certification bodies from 32 countries and four authorities from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have managed to obtain Halal certification from Jakim so far, he said. Speaking to the media after delivering the opening speech for the 7th Halal Certification Bodies Convention here Monday, Asyraf Wajdi said Jakim had received 25 applications from international bodies to get halal certification this year. "Jakim also continuously audits bodies who have received the certification, and for this year, two international halal bodies have had their certification revoked," he said. Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi said the two-day convention attended by more than 300 local and foreign delegates was aimed at increasing the understanding of foreign halal certification bodies on the Malaysian halal standard. "It is hoped that the discussion at the convention this time also touched on the halal aspect in the Islamic banking system, so that the halal issue is not only seen in terms of processing manufactured products alone, but in a more holistic manner," he said. --BERNAMA