Impediments of halal certification and logo in Malaysia / Ahmad Adl Azri Abdul Aziz, Nursuraya Mohamad Zulkifli and Syaza Fatini Shukri

Nowadays, Halalness became one of the most debatable topic for consumers especially to Muslim which is from the view point of Islamic practices and belief. In Malaysia, the submission of halal official recognition and logo depend on the request by food producers and entrepreneurs, and the holders of halal certificate gain the benefits of grapping a larger market because majority of Malaysian are Muslims (Ardyanti, et al., 2013). However, the advantages of halal certification are facing challenges that must be discussed.

The issues such as the delay in gaining halal official recognition and logo happen because of operational slackness and halal governance which involve both sides of foods operators and problems in JAKIM (Mohd et al., 2015). Things worsen with the misuse and abused of halal certification and logo which was supported by Mohd, Izhar, Hayati, and Chemah (2015). People that abuse the use of halal logo and certificate have really smacked the sensitivity of Muslims. This has created uncertainty amongst Muslims, and thus influenced their food and product choices.

Despite there were a few positives changes in terms of Halal Act, there is still a sense of insufficiency especially regarding enforcement. J AKIM as solely body to issue halal certificate should be given more influences to ensure sharp enforcement in the range of these halal products.
All these while, consumers presume that the use of halal logo is mandatory but actually the use of halal logo is an option for traders. When the use of halal logo is voluntary, these traders used the halal logo as they wish. The actions of these traders have caused some confusion among consumers in terms of the halal status of those products and premises (Zawawi, 2013).

Thus, these are the points of argument which are; a) delay in acquiring halal certificate (b) misuse and abuse of halal certificate and logo (c) lack of enforcement in terms of halal certification (d) voluntary basis of halal certification. Thus, the purpose of this argumentative essay is to highlight the issues of halal certification which indirectly connect with enforcement terms so it can contribute to understanding and additional knowledge of study.