PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) today reaffirmed its zero tolerance towards halal certification malpractices by certification bodies (CB) and their affiliates.
Its director-general, Datuk Othman Mustapha, said this was because such malpractices would affect the integrity of the halal supply chain, and lead to bad reputation of Muslims and Islam as a whole.
“Therefore, Jakim will not hesitate to delist any certifying body if that action is deemed necessary,” he said when delivering his keynote address at the 6th Halal Certification Bodies Convention 2015 here today.
As to date, Jakim had revoked its recognition to approximately 10 foreign halal CB due to their failure to meet certain guidelines.
The cases also involved some CB which had been issuing ‘black certificate’, or halal certification to companies without carrying out proper audit processes, he said.
Othman said some organisations even went to a greater length by creating a perception that Jakim’s recognition programme for CB had created major misunderstanding among the Muslims communities worldwide.
“Allow me to emphasize that the CB recognition programme is not to further divide the Muslims but to create better opportunities for them,” he added.
For the record, the role of foreign CB is to oversee the halal status of raw materials, food products, critical ingredients, meant and animal-based products to be imported to Malaysia.
So far, Jakim has recognised 57 international halal CB from 33 countries and 16 authorities from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). – BERNAMA
