Halal certification is no longer limited to religious compliance. It has become a strategic business requirement in global trade.
For companies targeting muslim majority markets like Indonesia or halal-conscious consumers all over the globe, understanding how to get halal certification is essential to ensure regulatory compliance, build consumer trust, and expand market access.
Products Covered: Food vs Non-Food Businesses
Halal certification applies to a broad range of products and services.
However, the scope, risk level, and assessment depth differ significantly between food and non-food sectors.
- Food Businesses
Food products are considered high-risk in halal compliance due to direct consumption.
Certification mostly covers raw materials, additives, processing aids, slaughtering methods (if applicable), production lines, storage, and distribution. Common food categories include processed foods, beverages, meat and poultry, dairy products, and food ingredients.
- Non-Food Businesses
Non-food products are generally classified as medium to low risk, but still require halal verification when there is potential contact with animal-derived materials or alcohol.
This category includes cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, chemicals, packaging materials, and logistics services. For non-food businesses, halal certification focuses heavily on ingredient traceability and contamination control.
Documents and Requirements to Get Halal Certification
Before starting the certification process, your business must prepare a comprehensive set of documents. While requirements vary by halal authority and country, the following are commonly required:
- Business registration, manufacturing licenses, and operational permits
- Product information and ingredient lists
- detailed formulations, including raw materials, additives, processing aids, and suppliers
- Written procedures covering halal policy, internal controls, training, traceability, corrective actions, and internal audits
- Valid halal certificates for all critical raw materials, issued by recognized halal authorities
- End-to-end process diagrams showing raw material intake, production, packaging, storage, and distribution.
- Evidence of segregation between halal and non-halal materials, including sanitation and cross-contamination prevention
Keep in mind that complete and accurate documentation is critical since missing or inconsistent data is one of the most common causes of certification delays.
Step-by-Step Halal Certification Process: The Basics
Understanding how to get halal certification becomes significantly more manageable when the process is divided into structured and sequential stages.
While specific requirements may vary slightly between halal authorities and countries, the core certification flow remains largely consistent worldwide.
The following are the basic steps applicable in countries providing halal assurance for Muslim consumers:
Step 1: Determine Product Scope and Halal Risk
The first and most fundamental step is identifying the scope of products or services to be certified and determining their halal risk level.
You must classify whether your business offerings fall under food or non-food categories as this distinction directly affects documentation requirements, audit intensity, and approval timelines.
Food products are typically classified as high-risk, while non-food products may be categorized as medium or low risk, depending on ingredient origin and potential cross-contamination.
A proper scope assessment helps your business anticipate compliance challenges early and allocate resources efficiently.
Step 2: Select a Recognized Halal Certification Body
Choosing the appropriate halal certification body is a strategic decision that directly impacts market acceptance.
In Indonesia, for instance, halal certification is administered by BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs which serves as the sole authority issuing halal certificates.
In this case, your business must work with Halal Inspection Bodies (LPH) that are officially accredited by BPJPH to conduct audits and inspections.
The halal decision itself is based on a fatwa issued by Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), ensuring sharia compliance before BPJPH grants the certificate.
For companies targeting export markets, it is critical to ensure that Indonesia’s halal certification is recognized by overseas halal authorities through mutual recognition arrangements.
Many importing countries require halal certificates to originate from government-backed or internationally acknowledged halal bodies, making Indonesia’s centralized system a strategic advantage when properly leveraged.
Step 3: Gap Analysis and Preparation
A halal gap analysis is conducted to evaluate current operations against halal requirements.
This stage identifies non-compliant ingredients, undocumented suppliers, inadequate segregation practices, or missing halal procedures within the organization.
Meanwhile during preparation, your business may need to reformulate products, replace non-halal or doubtful raw materials, revise supplier approvals, and establish a formal halal management system.
Step 4: Application Submission
Once all preparations are completed, the formal halal certification application is submitted to the selected certification body.
The application is accompanied by comprehensive supporting documents, including company licenses, ingredient lists, supplier certificates, process flowcharts, and halal management system records.
Step 5: Halal Audit and Inspection
The halal audit is a critical verification stage where compliance is assessed on-site. Auditors evaluate whether documented procedures are effectively implemented in daily operations.
For food manufacturers, the audit typically involves detailed assessments of critical control points, cross-contamination risks, and supplier management.
For non-food businesses, auditors focus more heavily on ingredient verification and contamination prevention.
Step 6: Corrective Actions (If Required)
If non-conformities are identified during the audit, your business is required to implement corrective actions within a specified timeframe. Corrective actions may include updating procedures, retraining staff, changing suppliers, modifying production layouts, or improving documentation.
Step 7: Fatwa or Technical Committee Review
After audit closure, the complete certification file is reviewed by a fatwa committee or technical review panel, depending on the authority’s structure, for instance Indonesia has MUI to issue the fatwa.
This committee evaluates compliance from both religious and technical perspectives, ensuring that all ingredients, processes, and controls align with Islamic principles and applicable halal standards.
Step 8: Certification Issuance
Once approval is granted, the halal certificate is formally issued.
The certificate specifies the approved products, production sites, and validity period. Your business is then authorized to use halal labeling and logos in accordance with certification body guidelines.
Also, your business must maintain compliance throughout the certificate validity period and undergo periodic surveillance audits to retain halal status.
Estimated Timeline and Approval Stages
The timeline for halal certification depends on preparedness, product risk, and authority workload. On average:
- Document Preparation: 2–4 weeks
- Application Review: 1–2 weeks
- Audit Scheduling and Execution: 2–3 weeks
- Corrective Actions and Review: 1–4 weeks
- Certificate Issuance: 1–2 weeks
In total, the process typically takes 1.5 to 3 months. Delays usually occur due to incomplete documentation, unapproved suppliers, or unresolved non-conformities.
Get Halal Certified Seamlessly with Watershore
Halal certification is a structured but manageable process when approached strategically.
By understanding how to get halal certification, preparing the right documents, and aligning operations with halal requirements, your business can achieve compliance efficiently and unlock new market opportunities.
To navigate the business certifications seamlessly, you need to partner with an experienced consultant such as Watershore.
From researching specific licenses to preparing and submitting paperwork, our team at Watershore provides ample assistance to ensure a smooth process.
With our expertise, navigating the intricate regulatory requirements becomes effortless. We save you time and effort while ensuring legal compliance, so you can focus on growing your business with confidence.
Ready to start your halal certification journey?
Contact Watershore today for expert guidance so you can focus on growing your business with confidence!
Sources:
https://www. sucofindo.co.id/en/articles/how-to-get-halal-product-certification-process-and-steps/
https://international- halal.com/steps-for-halal-certification/
Image source:
https://www.freepik.com/ free-photo/arabian-woman-hijab-inside-cafe-eating-salad_4410719.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=4&uuid=27d56349-1011-4562-a973-d58dd81456f9&query=halal