Mapping Malaysia's Resource Centres

16 Standard, Certification and Accreditation The global Halal market is currently driven by the increasing demand from both Muslim and non-Muslim populations, growing at an exponential rate. According to the Global Islamic Economy report, the Islamic economy will be worth an estimated RM12 trillion, comprising halal food, halal travel, modest fashion, halal media and recreation, halal pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and Islamic finance. At the turn of the new millennium, Malaysia anticipated the expansion of the halal industry and the Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) actively developed the world’s first Halal standard, known as MS 1500 – General Guidelines on the Production, Preparations, and Handling of Halal Food. To date, it has evolved into 13 comprehensive halal standards which are not only confined to the food industry, but also includes other daily products and services such as pharmaceuticals, personal care, cosmetics, logistics, packaging, hospitality services and more. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), in its role as the country’s sole Halal certification body, issues Halal certificates for products and services based on the Halal standard. Given the immense credibility of the halal standards, Malaysia’s halal certification is well-accepted worldwide and positioning Malaysia as a world leader in Halal trade. This is proven by the exporting of Malaysia’s Halal products, valued at an estimated RM45 billion. In 2014, Malaysia via Standards Malaysia was granted membership to the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Country (SMIIC), an affiliated organisation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). A milestone of great significance, this demonstrates Malaysia’s leadership and influence over the global Halal agenda. Malaysian Halal standards were also selected as references to develop the SMIIC standards on Halal food, supply chain and more. In addition to this, over 70 foreign Halal Certification Bodies from over 40 countries worldwide refer to Malaysian Halal standards and have sought recognition from JAKIM. In order to build a comprehensive global Halal ecosystem, Standards Malaysia provides accreditation services to laboratories for Halal testing. To date, there are over 20 accredited laboratories across Malaysia, with more than half of the laboratories offering Porcine DNA Detection testing. This initiative provides the support and greater impetus to help protect the interest of Muslim consumers and provide the assurance to all consumers regardless of their faith that halal-certified products are assured in terms of quality, hygiene, and safety.