Philippines expands access to Malaysia halal market with fourth certifier

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Philippines expands Malaysia halal access

Highlights

PhilUlama received recognition on Sept. 24 from Malaysia's JAKIM as the fourth Philippine-based halal certifier for Malaysian export markets.
The expanded certifier list offers Philippine exporters more service options and could boost export development, industrialization, job creation, and investment beyond religious compliance.
The 2026 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index ranked the Philippines fifth among non-OIC destinations, up from eighth in 2025, reflecting growing halal sector significance.

Malaysia recognition broadens export certification options

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, the Philippine Ulama Congress Organization, Inc., or PhilUlama, announced on Sept. 24 that it has been recognized by Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development, or JAKIM, as the fourth Philippine-based halal certification body allowed to certify products for the Malaysian market.

That recognition matters because halal compliance for export depends not only on domestic production standards but also on whether a target market accepts the certifier issuing the approval. In Malaysia, imported products marketed as halal must meet local requirements and be certified by a foreign halal certification body that JAKIM recognizes.

Before PhilUlama's inclusion, three Philippine organizations already held that status: the Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines, the Halal Development Institute of the Philippines, and the Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Philippines. The addition gives Philippine companies more choice when selecting a certifier, which could improve service availability, technical capability and geographic reach for exporters seeking entry into Malaysia.

Halal strategy gains wider economic relevance

Malaysia has long positioned itself as a global halal hub, and access to its market carries significance beyond a single certification approval. For the Philippines, the expanded list of recognized certifiers supports a wider effort to turn halal into a tool for export development, industrialization, job creation and investment rather than treating it only as a religious compliance issue.

The Philippines has been building its presence in the halal economy since 2001, with progress becoming more visible after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry said the Global Islamic Economy Summit identified the Philippines as one of the non-members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with a significant halal industry presence, while the 2026 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index ranked the country fifth among non-OIC destinations, up from eighth in 2025.

A broader base of internationally recognized certifiers could also help sectors beyond food manufacturing, including tourism, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, logistics, fashion and Islamic finance. The Marcos Jr. administration has increasingly integrated halal and Islamic finance into its economic agenda since 2022, making certification infrastructure a more important part of the country's regional trade ambitions.

In our earlier article on Malaysia’s efforts to tighten enforcement around foreign products and businesses entering its domestic market, we covered the government’s plan to improve policy coordination to protect fair competition, especially for local SMEs amid rapid digital trade growth. The piece also noted work on an e-Commerce Bill and the push to standardize the “Jom Beli Produk Malaysia” campaign, alongside Budget 2027 funding aimed at helping rural products and SMEs reach digital platforms and overseas markets.

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