HDC To Issue Country's Halal Certificate And Logo

PUTRAJAYA -- The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC)has been given the mandate by the Cabinet to start issuing the Halal certificate in the country and take over the role from Jakim (Department of Islamic Development, Malaysia).

The decision has been made and it is effective immediately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Wednesday.

"HDC is already capable of issuing the certificates and this means that the agency which issues the halal certificate and logo under Jakim will now change and operate under HDC," he told Bernama in an interview following his meeting with Menteri Besar Terengganu Datuk Ahmad Said at his office here Wednesday. Abdullah said HDC will issue the same, established halal certificate and logo which Jakim had been issuing thus far.

He said the country's halal certification system had been adopted by the United Nations.

Abdullah said there were currently 40 companies including foreign countries waiting to be issued with the Halal certificate.

"With this decision, there can be a speedier issuance of the certificates," he said.

HDC was set up in 2006 by the Prime Minister's Department with the objective of positioning Malaysia as a Global Halal Hub and accelerating the development of the halal industry worldwide.

Abdullah said at the recent Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Dakar, Sudan, a decision was also made that Malaysia issued the Halal certificate besides being a hub for the development of the halal industry.

He said HDC would be able to issue the international Halal certificate including for OIC member countries using the Jakim Logo which has been adopted by the United Nations.