GetHalal

Halal certification for logistics and warehousing

MS 2400 comes in three parts — transport, warehousing and retail. Which parts you are audited against depends on what you actually operate, and most operators run more than one.

Three parts, and you may need more than one

Logistics is the one scheme where the standard is split by activity rather than by product. A 3PL that moves goods, stores them and distributes to retail is not certifying against one standard but against three, and the application must declare transportation, warehousing and retailing scope in full in MYeHALAL. Under-declaring the scope is the most common reason a logistics application has to be resubmitted.

Standards and legislation applied to logistics services
InstrumentReference
Malaysian StandardMS 2400-1:2019 — Halal Supply Chain Management System — Part 1: Transportation (First Revision)
Malaysian StandardMS 2400-2:2019 — Halal Supply Chain Management System — Part 2: Warehousing (First Revision)
Malaysian StandardMS 2400-3:2019 — Halal Supply Chain Management System — Part 3: Retailing (First Revision)

Source: JAKIM, Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia (Domestik) 2020, Prosedur 19, page 41 · edition of 2020

Licences you need first

Logistics carries more prerequisite licensing than any other scheme, because the activity is already regulated by several agencies before halal enters the picture. Which of these apply depends on your operation — a domestic warehouse operator has a shorter list than a freight forwarder handling imported meat.

What you must already hold before applying — logistics services
RequirementWhat the manual says
Ministry of Transport licensingRelevant licences under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, where applicable
Customs licensingFreight forwarding, customs agent and shipping agent companies must hold the relevant licence from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, where applicable
JPV import permitCompanies storing meat and meat products must hold an import permit from the Department of Veterinary Services, where applicable
Declared scope in MYeHALALTransportation, warehousing and retailing details must be declared in full in the MYeHALAL application form

Source: JAKIM, Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia (Domestik) 2020, Prosedur 19, page 41 · edition of 2020

Where logistics applications actually fail

Not on doctrine and rarely on documentation. On the physical break in the chain:

  • Mixed loads. Halal and non-halal cargo in the same container or trailer without documented segregation. This invalidates the consignment regardless of what happened upstream.
  • Warehouse zoning. Racking that is nominally separated but shares handling equipment, or a zone map that does not match what the floor actually does.
  • Cleaning between loads. Procedures written for hygiene rather than for halal status, with no samak step where one is required and no verification record.
  • Subcontracted haulage. The subcontractor's vehicles are in scope. Operators who certify their own fleet and forget the overflow carrier fail here.
  • Port and terminal handling. The stretch nobody owns, and the one that breaks an otherwise clean chain.

Staffing and system requirements

The same bands as the product schemes, with one difference in wording that matters: for logistics the Muslim staffing requirement applies to the logistics service area rather than a processing area — so it attaches to the warehouse floor and the transport operation, not to head office.

Muslim staffing and halal management requirements, by company size
Company sizeMuslim employeesAppointmentCommitteeSystem
Large and medium industryMinimum two permanent Malaysian Muslim employees on duty in the processing area throughout every operating period or shiftHalal Executive at every branch premisesInternal Halal Committee for the premises and for each branch under separate operational managementHAS developed and implemented per the MHMS 2020 manual
Small industryMinimum one permanent Malaysian Muslim employee on duty in the processing area throughout every operating period or shiftHalal Supervisor at the premisesNot separately requiredIHCS developed and implemented per the MHMS 2020 manual
Micro industryMinimum one permanent Malaysian Muslim employee on duty in the processing area throughout every operating period or shiftNot separately requiredNot separately requiredIHCS developed and implemented per the MHMS 2020 manual

Source: JAKIM, Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia (Domestik) 2020, Prosedur 19, page 31 · edition of 2020

Fees

Logistics is charged on the same turnover-banded product and services schedule: RM100 a year for a micro operator up to RM1,000 for the largest, plus RM20 processing. See the full gazetted fee schedules.

Note: We are independent consultants, not JAKIM, Customs, the Ministry of Transport or JPV. The licences and the certificate come from those authorities; we prepare the scope declaration, the SOPs and the team.

Certifying a logistics operation?

Tell us which activities you run — transport, warehousing, retail — and we will tell you which parts of MS 2400 you are facing.

Get a consultation WhatsApp us

Other schemes

Map your scope before you apply

Under-declared scope is the most common resubmission in this scheme.

Get a consultation