Halal certification for Japan businesses
What Japan businesses need in order to certify for the Malaysian and ASEAN halal market.
Halal regulation in Japan
Japan has no national halal authority; certification is provided by independent organisations. Japanese food, cosmetics and ingredient exporters targeting Malaysia and the wider ASEAN halal market work through JAKIM-recognised certifiers.
| Certification body | Address as gazetted |
|---|---|
| Japan Muslim Association (JMA) | 3-17-23, Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan |
| NPO Japan Halal Association (JHA) | 2F Excel Abiko, 3-17-4 Karita, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-0011, Japan |
| Japan Islamic Trust (JIT) | 3-42-11, Minami Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0005, Japan |
| Muslim Professional Japan Association (MPJA) | Yoshioka Bldg 3F, 4-32-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan |
| Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA) | 5F, CICC Building, 2-6-2 Matsunami, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, 260-0044, Japan |
| Japan Halal Foundation (JHF) | As-Salaam Bldg. 1F, 4-6-7, Taito, Taiko-ku Tokyo, 110-0016, Japan |
Source: JAKIM Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 · edition of 30 January 2026
Getting Japan product into the Malaysian market
Domestic halal certification in Japan does not by itself grant access to Malaysia. JAKIM maintains a list of Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies, and recognition attaches to the certifying body, not to the country. A certificate from a well-established local body that is not on that list will not be accepted for the Malaysian market.
In practice this means three things for a Japan exporter:
- Choose the certifier deliberately. Confirm FHCB recognition for your specific product category before engaging, not after.
- Document to MS 1500:2019, not only to the local standard. Where the two diverge, the Malaysian standard governs for Malaysian market entry.
- Maintain segregation through the whole chain. Production, storage, and transport including port handling, a break anywhere invalidates the rest.
Where businesses usually get stuck
The common failure is not the audit itself but ingredient traceability: a supplier whose own halal status has lapsed, an additive with no documented origin, or a processing aid nobody thought to declare. A gap analysis before you apply is materially cheaper than a re-audit after you fail one.
Which Malaysian standard applies to your product
MS 1500:2019 is the food standard, and it is the one most applicants have heard of. It is not the only one: JAKIM certifies against a different standard per scheme, and applying under the wrong one is a delay before the audit even begins.
- MS 1500:2019: food and beverage
- MS 2634:2019: cosmetics
- MS 2424:2019: pharmaceuticals
- MS 2400-1:2019: logistics services
- MS 2400-2:2019: logistics services
- MS 2400-3:2019: logistics services
- MS 2636:2019: medical devices
How we help
We run a gap analysis against MS 1500:2019, build the documentation, train the people responsible for it, and rehearse the audit. The goal is a first-time pass.
Note: We are independent consultants, not JAKIM. We prepare your business for JAKIM's process; the certificate is issued by JAKIM.
Common questions about certifying from Japan
Which halal certification bodies in Japan does JAKIM recognise?
JAKIM's gazetted list, as at 2026-01-30, names 6 recognised bodies in Japan: Japan Muslim Association (JMA), NPO Japan Halal Association (JHA), Japan Islamic Trust (JIT), Muslim Professional Japan Association (MPJA), Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA) and Japan Halal Foundation (JHF). Recognition attaches to the certifying body rather than to the country, so certification from any other body in Japan is not accepted for the Malaysian market, however well established it is domestically.
Source: JAKIM Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies & Authorities, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 · gazette of 2026-01-30
Talk to a consultant
Discuss halal certification for your Japan business.
Get a consultation WhatsApp usRegulatory reference
- Japan
- Independent certification bodies (no government halal authority)
- Malaysian authority
- JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia)
- Standard
- MS 1500:2019
Reference
By product type
- Pharmaceutical requirements
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Transport and warehousing
- What certification costs
Regulatory data on this page checked against JAKIM's gazetted list on 2026-07-29.
Where we work in Japan
We support businesses across Japan. Cities with a dedicated guide are linked below.