ABSTRACT
The halal certification program started in Indonesia during the early 1990s and has developed into one of the strictest programs in the world. Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other countries have government mandates to only import halal-certified products. Other countries in the region, such as Thailand and the Philippines, have initiated regulations to encourage both the export and import of halal products. With the complexity of manufacturing systems and the utilization of all animal by-products, any product consumed by Muslims may be certified, whether the product is consumed internally or applied to the body externally. Any individual Muslim, Islamic organization, or agency can issue a halal certificate, but the acceptability of the certificate depends on the country of import or the Muslim community served through such certification. The halal certification process starts with choosing an organization that meets the company’s needs for the markets to be served.
