JAKIM Halal Certification Scheme Types Overview: Pick the Right Scheme (Malaysia)

In Malaysia, halal certification is administered centrally by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia), and JAKIM does not operate on a "one certificate for everything" basis — it splits certification into multiple schemes according to the nature of the industry, each with its own audit focus, governing standard and validity period. The first decision you need to make before applying is to determine which scheme your business falls under; pick the wrong scheme, and when your submitted product category does not match the audit items, the review will be rejected. This article walks you through the current schemes one by one, how to slot yourself in, and how validity periods differ across schemes.

All schemes operate under the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual MPPHM (Domestic) 2020 and the Malaysia Halal Management System MHMS 2020, paired with the corresponding MS-series standards (e.g. food MS 1500, cosmetics MS 2200, pharmaceuticals MS 2424).

Overview of JAKIM's current halal certification schemes

JAKIM originally had 7 schemes, and in recent years this has expanded to roughly 9–10 as industries have grown. The core schemes are as follows:

The number and names of schemes are adjusted through JAKIM circulars; before submitting, rely on the latest announcements on the official Halal Malaysia portal.

How to slot yourself in: three questions

Are you selling a "product" or a "service/premises"? Products (packable, exportable) go under product-type schemes such as "Food & beverage products," "Cosmetics," "Consumer goods" or "Pharmaceutical"; if you operate a physical F&B premises, you go under the "Food premises" scheme — the two have different audit logic (products are assessed on formulation and supply chain; premises on kitchen workflow, personnel and on-site hygiene).

Are you your own brand, or manufacturing for others? If the factory only handles production while a brand owner sells under its own label, you usually go under the OEM scheme; an own brand goes under the corresponding product scheme. The split of responsibility between the contract manufacturer and the brand owner must be made clear at application.

Is your product "eaten / applied / taken"? Ingested products go under food or pharmaceutical; products applied to skin or hair go under cosmetics (MS 2200-1); purely non-edible everyday items (e.g. cleaning, household products) go under consumer goods. For products with blurry category boundaries (e.g. an oral health supplement vs. a topical balm), first confirm the category's regulatory authority (NPRA/FSQD), then map to the halal scheme.

Validity periods differ by scheme (often overlooked)

Halal certificates do not all share one validity period; it depends on the scheme:

• Abattoir: 1 year
• Food & beverage products, food premises: 2 years
• Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, logistics, OEM, medical device: mostly 3 years

Operators with a long track record of good compliance may, for some schemes, apply for a longer validity. Certificates do not renew automatically; you must re-apply before expiry (recommended 3–6 months ahead). Once a certificate lapses it is invalid, and the halal mark may no longer be used.

Common cases of picking the wrong scheme

• Health supplements confused between "food" and "pharmaceutical": first check whether your product is registered with NPRA as a food or as a traditional/health product, then map to the halal scheme.
• Central kitchen + retail outlets: the central kitchen (production side) and the retail premises may belong to different submission units — don't apply for only one of them.
• Contract manufacturer not choosing OEM: submitting under an own-brand scheme while doing contract manufacturing causes a mismatch of brand and production responsibility, leading to rejection.
• Outsourced logistics not certified: the product has a halal certificate, but the transport and warehousing stages are not certified, so the halal integrity of the whole supply chain may still be questioned.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Exactly how many halal certification schemes does JAKIM have? Originally 7, expanded in recent years to roughly 9–10 (including new schemes such as medical device). Rely on the official Halal Malaysia website for the actual number and names, rather than memorising a figure.

Q: Can one company apply for multiple schemes at the same time? Yes. For example, an operator doing both processed food and catering may need both the "Food products" and "Food premises" schemes; the same applies to a product line spanning food and cosmetics. Each scheme is audited and certified separately.

Q: What happens if you pick the wrong scheme? When the submitted product category does not match the audit items, the review will require supplementary documents or reject the case, dragging out the timeline. It is advisable to confirm your category classification with JAKIM or the state religious department (JAIN) before applying.

Q: Is halal certification mandatory? For most products it is voluntary, but if you want to use the official halal mark on packaging, or enter halal channels and export markets, you must obtain certification under the corresponding scheme; claiming halal or self-making a halal mark without certification is a violation.

Q: Which scheme can an overseas factory apply for directly? Overseas manufacturers apply for the corresponding product scheme through JAKIM's international module; companies registered in Malaysia (including foreign-owned) go through the domestic module. Halal certificates from overseas suppliers must come from a foreign halal certification body (FHCB) recognised by JAKIM.

Self-check checklist

• [ ] Confirmed whether your business is "product" or "premises" type
• [ ] Determined whether you are an own brand or OEM contract manufacturer
• [ ] Mapped to the correct scheme and MS standard
• [ ] Confirmed that scheme's certificate validity and renewal timing
• [ ] Reviewed the halal status of every stage of the supply chain (including logistics)

Summary

JAKIM halal certification is a scheme-based system, and picking the right scheme is the starting point of the whole application. First use the three questions — "product/premises, own brand/contract, eaten/applied" — to slot yourself in, then map to the MS standard and validity period, and you will save a great deal of time otherwise lost to rejections and re-submissions. When category boundaries are blurry, it is better to confirm with the regulator first than to submit on a guess.

Further reading: Complete Guide to Malaysia Halal Certification, JAKIM MYeHALAL Online Application Process, Halal Mark Usage Rules.

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This article is compiled from official sources for reference only; actual compliance is subject to the latest official text and review by the relevant authorities.