OCTOBER 31 — When two American meat companies pleaded guilty in 2015 to mislabelling beef products as halal before exporting them to Malaysia, it was a diplomatic embarrassment.
Yet, it also became a pivotal moment that reinforced Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to upholding the sanctity of halal certification — one that has since evolved into a cornerstone of trust between Malaysia and the global halal industry.
A decade later, the same principle of integrity has become the foundation of a new era in US–Malaysia halal business relations.
From misstep to mutual respect
The 2015 case — where companies admitted to deceiving Malaysian authorities about the halal status of beef — was not just a trade scandal.
It was a moral lapse that struck at the core of Islamic consumer confidence.
Malaysia’s swift action then, through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), reaffirmed to the world that halal is not a label of convenience; it is a comprehensive system encompassing faith, hygiene, traceability, and ethical responsibility.
Fast forward to 2025, both Malaysia and the United States have come a long way. Today, the United States has begun to recognise Malaysia’s halal certification as the global gold standard, and American food producers are seeking not only access to Malaysia’s market but also its credibility.
The US Department of Agriculture and several state-level food authorities are now in structured dialogue with Jakim and Halal Development Corporation (HDC) to harmonise certification processes and expand exports to Muslim-majority markets across Asean and the Middle East.
Halal: A multi-billion-dollar opportunity
The halal economy is no longer a niche. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, the global halal market is projected to exceed US$5 trillion by 2030, covering food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, logistics, and finance. Malaysia’s leadership in this sector — anchored by its rigorous Shariah compliance, halal innovation labs, and digital traceability systems — makes it a natural partner for the United States, the world’s largest food exporter.
The recent US–Malaysia trade dialogue, under the broader umbrella of the Asean–US cooperation plan, has quietly included halal standardisation as a new frontier.
This is a strategic move: American companies see Malaysia not only as a consumer market but as a gateway to the global halal ecosystem.
Kuala Lumpur’s Halal Park, for instance, is now hosting joint ventures with US biotechnology firms focusing on plant-based and lab-grown halal proteins — products that align with the global shift toward sustainable food.
Why Malaysia matters
Malaysia’s advantage is institutional and moral. It possesses a globally trusted certification body (Jakim) that ensures transparency and quality, and it has built diplomatic linkages with halal authorities in more than 80 countries. Its national halal master plan integrates Islamic finance, logistics, and technology into one ecosystem — something even major Western economies are beginning to emulate.
For the United States, partnering with Malaysia means avoiding the pitfalls of fragmented halal labelling that have plagued Western markets.
By aligning with Malaysia’s halal assurance system, American producers can gain credibility not only in Malaysia but across Indonesia, the GCC, and Africa, where Malaysia’s certification carries significant weight.
Shared ethics, shared gains
The halal business is not merely about religious observance — it embodies ethical production, fair trade, and social responsibility.
These are principles that resonate deeply with America’s own emerging sustainable business practices. From organic food to ethical supply chains, halal certification reinforces the same trust-based values that modern consumers — Muslim or not — seek.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s economic diplomacy has also added new energy to this partnership. Under Malaysia’s 2025 Asean Chairmanship, the halal agenda is being reframed as both an economic driver and a diplomatic bridge between the Muslim world and Western economies.
For Washington, this represents a chance to participate in a value system that is globally inclusive rather than exclusionary.
Building the future together
The next phase of the US–Malaysia halal partnership will hinge on three priorities:
1. Certification cooperation: Expanding mutual recognition between Jakim and US certifiers to ensure seamless trade.
2. Innovation in halal tech: Joint ventures in AI-driven food traceability, blockchain for halal integrity, and biotechnological research.
3. Global market integration: Positioning Malaysia as the certification hub while the US provides scale and R&D.
These steps will allow Malaysia to expand its halal influence while enabling the US to capture growing Muslim consumer markets across Asean, South Asia, and Africa.
A new chapter of trust
Ten years ago, Malaysia’s insistence on halal integrity was seen by some as strict or protectionist. Today, it is recognised as visionary. By prioritising faith-based ethics over expediency, Malaysia built the foundation for a system of trust that now benefits partners worldwide — including the United States.
The 2015 mislabelling episode will remain a cautionary tale. But it has also become the seed of a stronger partnership — one based not on apologies, but on accountability and shared ambition.
As both nations look ahead, the message is clear: the halal economy is not merely about compliance — it is about conscience. And when Malaysia and the US work together on that basis, they do not just trade products; they trade in trust.
*Phar Kim Beng is professor of Asean Studies and Director, Institute of International and Asean Studies (IINTAS), IIUM.
**This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
