Farhan Tufail's Post: Halal Certification Challenges for Global Food Manufacturers

This article explores the key difficulties food manufacturers encounter when seeking halal certification across the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East, driven by the lack of a globally unified halal standard.

Each region imposes its own distinct rules regarding certificate acceptance, halal assurance systems, and packaging logo usage.

The Middle East adheres to GSO standards, emphasizing strict packaging imagery controls and supply chain traceability.

South Asia presents a divided landscape: Pakistan enforces a centralized system, while India depends on private certifiers, with particular focus on verifying animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin and emulsifiers.

The Far East, especially Indonesia, is transitioning toward compulsory certification, featuring a pivotal deadline of October 2026. This requires BPJPH-accredited certifiers and robust Halal Assurance Systems (SJPH).

The article concludes that manufacturers must embrace a process-oriented strategy, focus on the 2026 deadline, understand certificate recognition pathways, ensure packaging meets cultural standards, and combine halal certification with other quality certifications to navigate this intricate regulatory environment successfully.