You pick up a product and see a green crescent on the packaging. But is it a real halal certification logo — and which body issued it?
Halal logos are not all equal. A logo from JAKIM (Malaysia’s government body) means something different from a private UK certifier, which is different again from a North American standard. Knowing the difference helps you shop with genuine confidence rather than just pattern-matching on green symbols.
This guide covers the five most important halal certification bodies you will encounter — what they are, what their logos look like, which regions they cover, and how to verify a logo is genuine.
Why the Logo Matters
A halal logo is only meaningful if:
- The certifying body has actually audited the product and its supply chain
- The certification is current (not expired)
- The logo has not been applied fraudulently
Without understanding which bodies operate with rigorous standards, any green crescent begins to look the same. The logos below are the ones worth recognising.
JAKIM — Malaysia
Full name: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia)
Region: Malaysia (the global gold standard for halal certification)
What JAKIM certifies: Food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food service outlets in Malaysia. JAKIM certification is required for any product sold as halal in the Malaysian market.
The logo: A green circular logo with a stylised crescent and star, the word “HALAL” in both Arabic (حلال) and English, and “JAKIM” or a certification reference number. The current logo includes a holographic sticker on physical products.
What it means in practice: JAKIM operates one of the world’s most comprehensive halal certification systems. It covers the full supply chain — raw materials, processing aids, production facility, packaging, and logistics. For products imported into Malaysia or exported from Malaysian factories, JAKIM certification is widely accepted internationally.
How to verify: JAKIM operates an online verification portal at verify.halal.gov.my where you can enter a certification number or scan the QR code on the packaging to confirm the certificate is current.
Common on: Malaysian-produced instant noodles (Nissin MY, Maggi MY, Indomie MY), dairy products, confectionery, and fast food chains operating in Malaysia (McDonald’s MY, KFC MY).
MUIS — Singapore
Full name: Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
Region: Singapore
What MUIS certifies: Food and beverages sold or produced in Singapore. MUIS is the Singapore government’s statutory body for Islamic affairs and is the only recognised halal certifier for the Singapore market.
The logo: A green logo featuring a crescent and star, with “MUIS” and “HALAL” text. Singapore-certified products carry a unique certificate number.
What it means in practice: MUIS certification is required for any establishment or product marketing itself as halal in Singapore. Standards are rigorous and include annual audits, surprise inspections, and full ingredient traceability. MUIS is particularly important for restaurant certification — a MUIS-certified food establishment in Singapore means the entire kitchen, not just selected dishes, meets halal requirements.
How to verify: The MUIS website maintains a searchable database of certified products and food establishments. You can verify by the certificate number printed on the packaging.
Common on: Products sold in Singapore supermarkets (FairPrice, Cold Storage), Singapore-produced packaged goods, and food from MUIS-certified restaurants and hawker stalls.
IFANCA — North America
Full name: Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
Region: United States and Canada (certificates internationally recognised)
What IFANCA certifies: Food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food processing facilities in North America. IFANCA is the largest and most widely recognised halal certifier in the USA.
The logo: A blue crescent moon enclosing a letter “M” (representing Muslim), with “IFANCA” text below. Sometimes displayed as just the crescent-M symbol. The colour is typically blue rather than the green used by most other certifiers.
What it means in practice: IFANCA certification is commonly found on American-produced food exported globally, particularly to Muslim-majority countries. Many mainstream US brands (including some Kraft Heinz, ConAgra, and specialty food products) carry IFANCA certification on export variants.
How to verify: IFANCA maintains a certified products database on its website searchable by product name or company.
Common on: American halal-certified processed foods, protein supplements produced in the USA, imported American snacks in UK/EU halal food shops.
HMC — United Kingdom
Full name: Halal Monitoring Committee
Region: United Kingdom
What HMC certifies: Meat, poultry, food products, and food service businesses in the UK. HMC operates to one of the strictest UK standards — it requires hand slaughter (no pre-stunning) and continuous on-site monitoring by HMC representatives.
The logo: A green circular logo with a crescent, the word “HALAL” and “HMC” text. HMC logos appear on meat packaging, restaurant windows, and certified packaged food.
What it means in practice: HMC is the preferred certification body for Muslims who require hand-slaughtered meat without pre-stunning. This is a stricter standard than some other UK certifiers. If you require hand-slaughter specifically, look for HMC rather than other UK logos.
How to verify: HMC publishes a verified list of certified businesses and products on its website. The certification number on packaging can be cross-referenced.
Common on: Halal butchers across the UK, some supermarket halal meat counters, certified UK takeaways and restaurants, and some packaged halal meat products (chicken, lamb, beef).
HFA — United Kingdom
Full name: Halal Food Authority
Region: United Kingdom
What HFA certifies: Meat, poultry, and processed food in the UK. HFA was one of the first UK halal certifiers and operates a broader standard than HMC — it permits controlled stunning (where the animal survives the stun and is slaughtered while alive) alongside hand slaughter.
The logo: A green oval or rectangular logo with “HFA” and “Halal Food Authority” text, often with a crescent symbol. Colour is typically green.
What it means in practice: HFA certification is widely accepted across UK mainstream supermarkets and food businesses. Many large UK retailers stock HFA-certified halal lines. Because HFA permits stunning, some Muslims prefer HMC or specifically seek out non-stunned meat — but HFA certification confirms the animal was alive at the point of slaughter, which satisfies the majority scholarly position.
How to verify: HFA publishes a certified business directory on its website. Products carry an HFA certificate number.
Common on: Supermarket halal chicken (Asda, Morrisons halal sections), large-scale halal food producers supplying UK retail, some fast food chains in the UK.
Other Certifiers Worth Knowing
| Body | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia) | Indonesia | Required for all halal products in Indonesia; widely respected globally |
| ESMA | UAE | UAE national standard; required for products imported into the UAE |
| CICOT | Thailand | Thai Halal Standard; covers Thai-produced food exports |
| AFIC | Australia | Australian Federation of Islamic Councils; covers AU-produced halal exports |
| Berjaya | Multiple | Private international certifier used by some EU exporters |
How to Spot a Fake or Expired Logo
Fraudulent halal logos exist. Some manufacturers apply a green crescent without any certification. Here is how to check:
1. Look for a certificate number
Every legitimate halal certification includes a unique certificate or registration number on the packaging. A logo without any reference number is a warning sign.
2. Verify online
All major certification bodies (JAKIM, MUIS, IFANCA, HMC, HFA) have online verification portals or searchable databases. If you cannot find the product or business in the database, the certification may be expired or fraudulent.
3. Check the expiry
Halal certificates are issued for a fixed period (typically 1–2 years) and must be renewed. An expired certificate means the product has not been audited recently. Some certifiers include the certificate expiry date on the packaging.
4. Context check
A certification logo from JAKIM on a product manufactured in Germany should raise questions — JAKIM certifies products for the Malaysian market. Check that the certifier’s jurisdiction matches the product’s origin and destination market.
Which Logo Should You Trust?
All five certifiers above operate legitimate, audited programmes. The “right” one depends on your location and requirements:
| If you are in… | Primary logos to look for |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | JAKIM (required by law) |
| Singapore | MUIS (required by law) |
| UK | HMC (stricter, hand-slaughter) or HFA (mainstream) |
| USA / Canada | IFANCA |
| Indonesia | MUI |
| UAE | ESMA |
For hand-slaughter specifically: HMC in the UK, JAKIM for Malaysian products.
For products without any of these logos, check the ingredient label for E-codes and additives — it is the next-best verification method when certification is absent.
Quick FAQ
Is a product without a halal logo automatically haram?
No. Many permissible foods are never certified — plain fruits, vegetables, most spices, and single-ingredient foods rarely carry halal logos. The logo is most useful for processed products where ingredient sourcing and slaughter method need independent verification.
Can I trust a halal logo from a body I do not recognise?
Approach unknown logos with caution. Look up the certifying body before relying on the mark. If you cannot find the body’s website, published standards, or verification portal, treat the logo as unverified.
Is JAKIM certification better than HMC?
They are different, not ranked. JAKIM is the Malaysian national standard and is comprehensive across all product categories. HMC focuses on the UK market with particularly strict meat standards. A product can be certified by both.
Do UK supermarkets stock JAKIM-certified products?
Occasionally — imported Malaysian and Indonesian products in Asian supermarkets and some Tesco/Asda international aisles may carry JAKIM or MUI marks. Standard UK supermarket own-brand halal products typically carry HFA certification.
Summary
| Body | Country | Covers | Strictness | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAKIM | Malaysia | All food categories | Very high | verify.halal.gov.my |
| MUIS | Singapore | All food categories | Very high | muis.gov.sg |
| IFANCA | USA/Canada | All food categories | High | ifanca.org |
| HMC | UK | Meat, food, restaurants | High (hand-slaughter required) | halalhmc.org |
| HFA | UK | Meat, food, restaurants | High (stunning permitted) | halalfoodauthority.com |
When you see a green crescent, take two seconds to identify the body and check the certificate number. That habit is the difference between verified halal and assumed halal.
To check the E-codes and additives in any product regardless of certification status, use the ingredient scanner or search the E-codes database.
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