Halal Industry Development Corporation

Policies & Regulations

Banner

Food Additives Regulatory Bodies
Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985
Food Export Requirements
Halal Agencies in Malaysia
Funds and Schemes for SMEs Promoted by the Govt. of Malaysia

Food Additives Regulatory Bodies

Malaysia

United Kingdom

United States of America

Japan

Australia/New Zealand

European Commission

^back to top

Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985

The act was introduced and Be It Enacted by the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament. The Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 is fully utilize by Ministry of Health under Food Safety and Quality Division to ensure and uphold the nation's integrity in food safety and quality. The division will ensure:

• All imported and local manufactured food is safe and in compliance with Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.
• Food consignments exported by the country is in compliance with regulations imposed by the importing countries.
• Food Regulations 1985 is reviewed and updated to be in line with Codex Alimentarius and other country legislation.
• Participation in planning, monitoring and evaluation of all activities with regards to the WTO (SPS & TBT agreements) trade agreements and Regional Affairs.

Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (FoSIM) operates as intelligent web-based information system enhancing management of food safety surveillance in Malaysia. Integrated with Custom Information System, FoSIM will allow importers/agents at entry points to manage food importation activities using ICT effectively.
^back to top

Food Export Requirements

A.    Product Certification

True enough it is not easy to market product internationally. However, by adapting to international standards and needs, it will lead to amplify market opportunities thus, bring up bigger return in investment. In addition, it will increase competitiveness in the global marketplace which facilitate to faster, easier access to foreign markets. This requirement will also help to avoid cost and need for testing and re certification when hoping to another potential market.

In food and beverage sector, requirement for standard or certification is compulsory due to safety and quality factor of the products. Listed below is some of standard/certification related to F&B sector:

•    Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
•    Codex Standard and Codex Alimentarius
•    Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
•    Good Hygiene Practice (GHP)
•    Halal certificate
•    Health certificate
•    Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP)
•    Quality Assurance Programme
•    ISO 9000
•    EU Registration Number (EU No. for seafood)

For further information on every country import and export standards, please refer to FAO site (link available for each country sections).

B. Country Specific Requirement

Some country will have more stringent requirement than others depending on their regulatory and policies. Most of country will required at least certification on HACCP, in Malaysia; exporters can apply for HACCP certification and other certification through Food Safety and Quality Division. Compliance with other standards will make it simpler to exchange technical information with experts in other countries due to the fact that, standards are constantly changing and exporters always need to keep up date.

Australia		HACCP - meat and meat product Health Certificate - frozen cooked prawns
Brunei		Free Sales Certificate - food products Health Certificate - general food products
Canada		HACCP - meat and poultry establishment and storage facilities
China		Free Sales Certificate - food products Health Certificate - edible palm oil, palm olein and general food
England		HACCP - meat and meat product
European Union (EU)		HACCP - meat and meat product and fish and fish products EUREPGA - fruits and vegetables
Indonesia		Free Sales Certificate - food products Health Certificate - general food products
India		Free Sales Certificate - food products Health Certificate - edible palm oil, palm olein and general food
Japan		Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) HACCP - all food products Heat Process Meat Certificate - food products
New Zealand		HACCP - animal product processing business
Saudi Arabia		Saudi Arabian Standards Organizations (SASO)
Thailand		Non-Genetically Modified Food (GMO) - declaration on the non-use of GMO in raw material
United States of America		USDA - fruits and vegetables The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) - plants, meat and animal products HACCP - meat and meat product and fish and fish products
Vietnam		Free Sales Certificate - food products Health Certificate - edible palm oil, palm olein and general food

Reference: MATRADE Business Handbook

C.    Exporting Halal Products

In effort to encourage competitiveness of local Halal products in global market, as well to cultivate new investment in Halal food manufacturing, Investment Tax Allowance (ITA) for Halal food production has been introduced. This will facilitate manufacturer of Halal food to explore opportunities of producing high quality Halal food that comply with international standard and also help in increasing utilization of modern technology in food manufacturing.

Companies with Malaysia Halal Certificate are eligible to be given ITA of 100% of qualifying capital expenditure incurred within a period of five years. This allowance can be offset against 100% of the statutory income in the year of assessment. Any unutilized allowances can be carried forward to subsequent years until fully utilized. Applications should be submitted to MIDA.

To apply for Malaysia Halal Certification, please refer Halal Certification Web page. On top of having Halal certificate, to become export ready for local Halal food product, Companies may require one or all of the following certificates from Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH):

•    Health Certificate
•    Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certificate
•    Free Sales Certificate (FSC)

In the case of exporting meat, poultry and other livestock products, several additional documents are required by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS):

•   Export and Import Permit | Other Import Requirements
•   Veterinary Health Certificate
•   Veterinary Health Mark (VHM)

Note: Please read some related references in Halal Market Information

^back to top

Halal Agencies in Malaysia

HALAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
HDC has been tasked to further boost the Halal agenda in terms of standards development, branding enhancement as well as commercial and industry development.

Other Related Agencies in Malaysia

	DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MALAYSIA JAKIM is a Malaysian Government institution which has established Malaysia Halal logo and implemented Halal Certification System. Issues Halal certificate for local and export markets. Monitoring and enforcement of halal guidelines. JABATAN AGAMA ISLAM NEGERI AND MAJLIS AGAMA ISLAM NEGERI Help in monitoring to protect Halal integrity. Issues Halal certificate for domestic markets only.

	MINISTRY OF DOMESTIC TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIR (KPDNHEP) KPDNHEP provides enforcement and monitoring programme to protect Halal integrity Halal logo and consumer's interest.

	MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY MITI formulates strategies and provides incentives to encourage trade and investment in Halal products and services. MITI's focus is not only in the promotion of Halal products and services. The Ministry takes a holistic view and has worked with the Ministry of Finance to design and provide incentives and support along the whole chain of the manufacturing process. At the international level, MITI assumes an active role in promoting the Malaysian Halal Standard to be used as a benchmark for the International Halal Standard.

	MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MATRADE, as the national trade promotion agency under MITI, undertakes various export promotion activities including the promotion of the Halal sector. These activities include participation in international trade fairs overseas, organising specialised Halal marketing missions to selected markets, undertaking advertising and promotion of the Halal sector and disseminating information on market opportunities in the Halal industry to Malaysian companies.

	DEPARTMENT OF STANDARDS MALAYSIA STANDARDS MALAYSIA play active role in assisting Malaysia to accelerate Halal industry by developing Malaysian Standard on Halal Food (MS 1500) also helps industry leaders in development and promotion of Malaysia's Halal Standards and continually to develop and update Malaysia Halal Standards.

	ECONOMIC PLANNING UNIT EPU support and helps in formulate Halal industry Master plan to strengthen the role and function.

	SME CORPORATION MALAYSIA SME Corporation Malaysia (previously known as Small Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC)) provides matching grants to SMEs for Halal product development and product formulation, sample testing, acquisition of machinery and equipment, renovation expenditure for compliance to certification requirement, other related costs for compliance to requirements of Halal certification and promotional activities.

	SMEINFO The SMEinfo is a One Stop Information portal for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It provides information on all aspects of SME Development including Financing, Advisory Services, Training Programmes, Business and Networking opportunities as well as other SMEs Developmental Programmes/initiatives by the Government and the Private Sectors. SME Corp. Malaysia is the Secretariat to the National SME Development Council (NSDC).

	DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY Department of Chemistry is the leader in Halal product analysis and traceability. Specialized in Meat Speciation / Halal DNA Functions as well research and product quality assurance.

	MALAYSIA PRODUCTIVITY CORPORATION Help in identify potentials in Halal industry as well provides training and consultancy to SMEs and industries to meet Halal standards and requirements.

	MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY One of MIDA role is to help disseminate information and provide updates on policies and Halal incentives.

	DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES DVS provides consultancy and advisory services on Halal livestock to the food industry. Issues VHM logo for meat based products. Monitoring and enforcement. Issues export permit and veterinary health certificate. Link : List of Approved Abattoir

	ROYAL MALAYSIAN CUSTOMS Monitoring Halal product import and export. Issues export documents

	DEPARTMENT OF STATISTIC MALAYSIA DOSM provides updates on Halal market and responsible in collecting, interpreting and disseminate latest and real time statistics in the monitoring of national economic performance and social development .

	MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Play active role with other research institute in enhancing research and development in Halal products especially in Halal food processing technology and leveraging upon technological development of Halal products.

	STANDARDS AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA SIRIM support R&D for Halal in areas of advance material and advance manufacturing.

	OTHER MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES MOF: Ministry of Finance MOSTI: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation MoTOUR: Ministry of Tourism Malaysia MOT: Ministry of Transport MOA: Ministry of Agriculture NPCB: National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau MOH: Ministry of Health MOH acted under Food Safety and Quality Division, issues health and HACCP certificate as well as monitoring the performance of the food factory. Useful link FOSIM - Food Safety Information System

	LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS Provides R&D and courses in Halal matters. HPRI : Halal Product Research Institute of UPM and Halal Industry Research Centre of IIUM as among the leading research Institute in Halal matters, giving full dedication in their R&D and findings.

^back to top