JAKARTA – The rapidly expanding global halal industry requires enhanced cross-border cooperation to maintain rigorous standards and preserve the confidence of Muslim consumers worldwide. Recognizing this imperative, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore have reinforced their partnership through an international conference in Johor, focusing on harmonizing cross-border halal regulations. This initiative represents a pivotal step toward unifying perspectives, strengthening certification processes, and positioning ASEAN as a premier global halal industry hub.

Growing Importance of the Halal Sector

The global halal industry has emerged as one of the world’s most strategically significant sectors. With the expanding Muslim consumer population, demand for halal-certified products and services continues to surge. Against this backdrop, an international seminar titled “Cross-Border Halal Regulations: Shaping a Future Perspective” convened on September 10, 2025, at Sunway Hotel Big Box in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia.

Organized by the Johor Kingdom through the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), the event attracted over 300 participants representing diverse sectors, including the Johor Kingdom, Malaysian government officials, halal business operators, academics, professionals, students, and members of the general public. This cross-sectoral attendance underscored the critical importance of discussions surrounding cross-border halal regulations for the industry’s future development.

Indonesian Perspective: Certification as Business Imperative

Raafqi Ranasasmita, Corporate Secretary of LPPOM representing Indonesia, emphasized that halal compliance constitutes a religious obligation for Muslims. He expressed concern that many individuals in Muslim-majority nations pay insufficient attention to halal certification, assuming products sold in their countries are automatically halal.

This contrasts sharply with Muslims in minority countries, who exercise extreme diligence in verifying the halal status of products through formal certification processes. According to Raafqi, halal certification transcends mere formality—it represents a crucial business development requirement that provides security and builds trust among Muslim consumers.

He elaborated on challenges associated with importing halal products into Indonesia, particularly the prevalent practice of recognizing only specific halal logos. Products certified halal by Malaysia’s JAKIM, for example, must still obtain certification from Indonesia’s BPJPH to enter the Indonesian market.

Many Muslim entrepreneurs face similar obstacles due to underestimating certification importance. “Numerous Muslim entrepreneurs might think, ‘I’m Muslim for seven generations. Why should I pursue halal certification?’ Yet when we observe businesses in China, Japan, or France, we see people unfamiliar with Islam demonstrating extraordinary commitment to quality and halal certification,” he noted.

Raafqi also highlighted Indonesia’s significant dependence on imported products, especially meat and dairy. Despite Indonesia’s substantial land area, “We import over 60% of our meat. We also import considerable quantities of milk. Meanwhile, in India, with comparable climate conditions, they’ve established extensive dairy cooperatives. Hopefully, halal certification will strengthen domestic businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other Muslim nations, reducing our heavy reliance on imported products,” he stated.

He added that while halal certification should provide quality assurance, standards must be maintained even when processes are streamlined. According to him, faster, simpler, and more affordable certification is essential, but never at the expense of established quality standards.

Malaysian Approach: Strict Production Protocols

From Malaysia, YBrs. Ustaz Muhyidin Bin Aziz Saari, Director of Halal Management at JAKIM, emphasized Malaysia’s stringent protocols for meat and meat-based product production and handling. Slaughterhouses require approval from Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), with audits conducted jointly by JAKIM and DVS.

Consequently, even halal-certified meat products cannot enter Malaysia if the slaughterhouse lacks proper approval. He stressed that halal standards throughout ASEAN don’t differ dramatically, but each country maintains distinct policies that industry participants must understand and respect.

Singapore’s Cooperative Philosophy

From Singapore, Mohamed Khair Bin Mohamed Noor, CEO and consultant at SuChi Success Initiatives Pte. Ltd., presented an alternative perspective. He stated that Singapore emphasizes halal cooperation rather than competition.

“Singapore readily accepts halal products from Indonesia and Malaysia. When an ingredient proves difficult to source, businesses typically receive immediate guidance to seek alternatives bearing JAKIM or Indonesian Halal logos. This demonstrates more cooperation than competition,” he explained.

He believes substantial opportunities exist for halal cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. A concrete example involved a Chinese meat product bearing its own halal logo, which all three countries initially rejected. After obtaining BPJPH certification, the product successfully entered Malaysian and Singaporean markets, demonstrating the critical importance of understanding cross-border halal regulations.

According to Mohamed Khair, Singapore’s market is compact yet highly accessible. This openness positions Singapore as a potential regional halal product hub, where halal goods from various countries are consolidated before reaching global markets. However, he emphasized that business operators must respect each country’s unique requirements and regulations.

Building Trust Through Regulatory Harmony

Extensive discussions at the seminar emphasized that cross-border halal regulations extend beyond mere regulatory differences—they fundamentally concern building trust with global Muslim consumers. The synergy among Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore represents a significant asset for strengthening the ASEAN halal industry and establishing the region as an international hub.

By maintaining halal certification quality, strengthening local businesses, and expanding collaborative opportunities, the global halal industry’s future becomes stronger and more promising.

LPH LPPOM’s Commitment to Harmonization

LPH LPPOM consistently supports regulatory harmonization and halal certification quality across countries as part of its commitment to strengthening the halal ecosystem, providing quality assurance for consumers, and encouraging globally competitive business growth.

Furthermore, through the Halal On 30 program (accessible at bit.ly/HalalOn30), LPH LPPOM provides practical education on the halal certification process through concise 30-minute sessions. This represents LPPOM’s effort to deliver accessible, efficient, and high-quality halal product inspection services.

Looking Forward

The collaborative framework established by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore sets a powerful precedent for regional halal industry development. As Muslim consumer populations continue expanding globally, the importance of unified standards, mutual recognition, and cooperative approaches becomes increasingly critical.

Success in harmonizing cross-border halal regulations will not only facilitate smoother trade flows but also strengthen consumer confidence in halal-certified products throughout the region and beyond. This trilateral cooperation demonstrates that when nations prioritize collaboration over competition, the entire halal ecosystem benefits—from producers and certifiers to the millions of Muslim consumers who depend on reliable halal certification for their daily needs.

Original Article:

Halal MUI. (2025, October 31). Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore Discuss Cross-Border Halal Regulations . Retrieved from https://halalmui.org/en/indonesia-malaysia-and-singapore-discuss-cross-border-halal-regulations/