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Halal certification is confirmation by a certification body that a product meets Islamic requirements for ingredients and production. For Vietnamese businesses, it is often a condition for exporting food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to markets with large Muslim populations.
A key point up front: there is no single halal certificate accepted by every country. Each importing market has its own authority and its own list of recognised certification bodies.
1. What Do Halal and Haram Mean?
In Arabic, halal means "permitted" or "lawful", and haram means "forbidden". For food, halal refers to products Muslims are permitted to consume under the Qur'an and Islamic law.
Halal covers not only ingredients but also their origin, slaughter method, processing, storage and transport. A plant-based product can still fail halal requirements if it is cross-contaminated or uses non-permitted additives.
Read more: Halal or Haram? More Than Just Food, It's a Way of Life
2. What Is Halal Certification?
Halal certification is the outcome of an assessment by a halal certification body of a product, process or service. Once certified, the business receives a certificate and may use that body's halal mark on its products under the body's rules.
The value of a certificate depends on whether the certification body is recognised by the importing country, not on what the certificate is called.
3. Which Products Usually Need Halal Certification?
Food, beverages (excluding alcoholic drinks), seafood, meat and meat products.
Ingredients, additives and flavourings for the food industry.
Cosmetics and personal care products.
Pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.
Animal feed; some services such as slaughtering, logistics and food service.
4. Conditions for Halal Certification
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| No haram ingredients | No forbidden components, including additives, processing aids and food-contact packaging |
| Animal-derived ingredients must be halal | Permitted animals slaughtered according to Islamic law; suppliers hold halal certificates |
| Segregation of halal and non-halal | Separate receiving, storage, production, equipment cleaning and transport to prevent cross-contamination |
| A maintained halal assurance system | A responsible person, staff training, supplier control and traceability records |
Detailed requirements depend on the standard applied by the certification body, so read the standard of the programme you apply for.
5. The Halal Certification Process
Each certification body sets its own procedure, which usually includes:
Identify the export market and choose a certification body recognised by that market.
Apply and submit documents: company details, product list, formulations and ingredients, suppliers' halal certificates, production flow charts.
Document review of ingredients and processes.
On-site audit: ingredients, production lines, storage, hygiene and records.
Corrective actions for any nonconformities.
Certification and permission to use the halal mark.
Periodic surveillance; certification may be suspended or withdrawn if requirements are not maintained.
Validity and surveillance frequency vary between certification bodies and markets.
6. Halal Requirements Differ by Importing Market
| Market | What to know |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) maintains a list of recognised foreign halal certification bodies. As of October 2026, five Vietnamese bodies are recognised |
| Indonesia | Under Law 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance (as amended), halal certificates are issued by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH); the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issues the halal fatwa. Foreign halal certificates require BPJPH recognition |
| Gulf countries (GCC) | Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) standards apply, such as GSO 2055-1 on general requirements for halal food; accreditation requirements for certification bodies vary by country |
Recognition lists change over time. Check the latest list on the importing country's authority website before signing a certification contract.
7. Halal Standards in Vietnam
Vietnam has issued several national halal standards, applied on a voluntary basis:
TCVN 12944:2020 – Halal food – General requirements.
TCVN 13708:2023 – Good agricultural practices for halal production facilities.
TCVN 13709:2023 – Halal animal feed.
TCVN 13710:2023 – Requirements for animal slaughter.
TCVN 13888:2023 – Requirements for bodies certifying halal products, processes and services.
On 29 March 2024, the National Halal Certification Centre was established under Decision No. 689/QĐ-TĐC. A government decree on halal product management was still in draft as of July 2026.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Is halal certification mandatory? In Vietnam, halal certification is voluntary. However, many importing markets and customers require a halal certificate from a body they recognise.
Can one halal certificate be used for every market? No. Each market recognises its own list of certification bodies, so exporters to several countries may need more than one certificate.
Do plant-based products need halal certification? If the market or customer requires it, yes, because additives, processing aids and cross-contamination risks still need to be controlled.
How long is a halal certificate valid? It depends on the certification body and programme. Follow the surveillance and renewal dates on the certificate.
9. Conclusion
Halal certification is a market-by-market requirement. Identify your export markets, review ingredients and your ability to segregate production before working with a certification body recognised by the importing country.
This article is for general knowledge. The services TTS Cert currently provides are listed on our Services page.
References
Vietnam News – Việt Nam has five Halal certification bodies recognised by Malaysia (9 October 2026)
Hukumonline – Authority to grant halal certificates, who is responsible? (2023)
GSO – GSO 2055-1:2015 Halal food – Part 1: General requirements
Luật sư Việt Nam – Legal gaps in halal certification in Vietnam (15 July 2026)
