KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has approved 84 halal logos from 46 countries, as of Dec 1 last year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.
In a Facebook post today, Zulkifli said the 46 countries were Australia with eight halal logos approved by Jakim, followed by Japan (seven), China (six), four each in India and United States, and three each in Brazil, Netherlands, the Philippines, and South Africa.
Two halal logos each from Canada, Italy, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom were also approved.
Jakim also approved one halal logo each from Austria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Lithuania, Maldives, Morocco, Portugal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
He said with the halal logos, consumers can identify the logos from abroad recognised by Jakim for imported products being sold in the market.
"At the same time, it also facilitates the importers to identify products that have halal certificates recognised by Jakim to be imported into Malaysia, to avoid losses and doubts."
In his post, Zulkifli said Malaysians, especially Muslims, are encouraged to store in their mobile phones the halal logos approved by Jakim of the country they intend to visit.
He said the public can download the full list of halal logos at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hvYRXjsfP9mpPifB_4tG2k17qi1_uZQy...
Yesterday, Zulkifli reportedly said the standard operating procedures (SOP) relating to halal food products will be launched soon.
He said the SOPs will include amendments to the activities related to halal certification to prevent the occurrence of 'duplication' of halal certificates, as well as the use of digitisation in the barcodes of halal food products.