Kuala Lumpur, 12 November 2025 – A newly established Halal Development Corporation (HDC)-led Halal Commission marks a strategic initiative to “centralise and improve” halal certification in Malaysia, according to Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.
During parliamentary proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat, Ramanan explained that the commission will absorb all halal-certification responsibilities previously handled by separate bodies, thereby providing a more streamlined, consistent framework for local enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSMEs), to compete domestically and abroad.
“The new Halal Commission will take over all matters and assistance related to halal certification,” said Ramanan.
Key Points & Significance
- The move reflects the government’s intent to strengthen Malaysia’s halal ecosystem by reducing fragmentation in certification processes and increasing efficiency for entrepreneurs.
- Ramanan emphasised that his ministry will shift its focus to areas such as improving packaging, branding and quality standards of halal products, while the certification apparatus transitions to the new commission.
- The initiative ties into broader efforts to support MSMEs via the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme and the Halal Entrepreneur Internationalisation Programme, which aim to advance productivity, certification-compliance and global market access.
Implications & Considerations
- For MSMEs: A centralised certification body may reduce duplication and streamline access to halal credentials, but the transition period may create uncertainty or backlog in approvals.
- For export markets: A unified certification framework could enhance Malaysia’s credibility as a halal-hub, supporting brands seeking international recognition.
- For government coordination: Effective implementation will depend on alignment across agencies (such as HDC, the ministry, standard bodies) and resourcing of the new commission.
- Risk: The success of this restructuring hinges on its execution, a partial or delayed rollout could prolong certification bottlenecks and affect business competitiveness.
What to Monitor
- Publication of the formal mandate, structure and timeline for the new Halal Commission.
- Impact on certification cost, approval times and number of SMEs gaining halal status post-centralisation.
- How the regulatory transition affects existing certificate-holders and whether there are grandfathering arrangements.
- The role of branding and packaging initiatives in driving downstream value for halal-certified MSMEs.
