Malaysia’s strict halal requirements pose hurdles for US poultry exports

This contrasts with international practices, which permit halal poultry to be processed and stored in shared facilities, provided proper Islamic cleaning procedures are followed.

“US industry has expressed concerns regarding the cost of creating new, segregated production facilities to access Malaysia’s market,” the report stated.

Stringent requirements

Beyond halal certification, poultry processing plants in the US must also be registered with Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to export their products.

The application process requires extensive documentation and can take several months to complete. Even after approval, US poultry shipments undergo plant-by-plant inspections by DVS and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

The report also noted that minor discrepancies in export certificates and facility registration details can result in detained poultry shipments, causing delays of several days or even weeks.

The US trade representative described Malaysia’s registration system as “overly burdensome” and warned that it could further complicate efforts to expand poultry exports to the country.