JAKIM's certification procedure lists the circumstances in which an application will not succeed. Checking this list before applying saves time and fees.
The official list
- The company produces and distributes both halal and non-halal products;
- The product itself is not halal;
- Natural substances that undergo no processing;
- Drugs or products categorised as pharmaceutical by the Ministry of Health Malaysia;
- Hair colour / hair dye;
- Processed products manufactured overseas;
- Products labelled with confusing terminology such as bak kut teh;
- Fertilisers and animal feed.
The ones most often missed
The first item catches many operators. If your company both produces and distributes halal and non-halal lines, the application will not succeed — not because the halal product is faulty, but because the operation is mixed. The usual remedy is separating entities, facilities or distribution.
The seventh item surprises people: even with fully halal ingredients, a product name carrying non-halal connotations still draws a rejection. The name forms part of the assessment.
The fourth item is not an absolute refusal — it means pharmaceutical products sit under the Ministry of Health's jurisdiction rather than this certification route.
Before you apply
Check three things: whether your operation mixes halal and non-halal; whether your product falls into an excluded category; and whether your product name carries confusing terminology. All three are settled before an audit begins.