JAKIM Audit Checklist 2026: How to Prepare Your Factory
4 March 20268 min readBy TAQYID Editorial Team
The notification arrives. JAKIM has scheduled your certification audit.
For many Halal Executives and QA Managers, what follows is weeks of urgent document retrieval, last-minute supplier chases, and the sinking feeling that something critical will be missed. This should not be the normal experience of audit preparation.
This checklist covers what you need to have in order — before the auditor walks through your door. It is structured around the MHMS 2020 compliance framework and reflects the areas most commonly scrutinised during JAKIM certification and renewal audits.
Before You Begin: Understand What JAKIM Is Auditing
JAKIM auditors evaluate your compliance against the Malaysian Halal Management System (MHMS) 2020. They are not only checking physical facilities — they are assessing whether your organisation has a functioning, documented, and maintained Halal Assurance System (HAS) that operates continuously, not just on audit day.
Keep this principle in mind as you work through the checklist: every item below should reflect an ongoing practice, not a preparation activity.
Section 1 — Organisational Readiness (JKHD)
Your Jawatankuasa Halal Dalaman (JKHD — Internal Halal Committee) is the first thing auditors will examine. Confirm the following:
JKHD composition documented — names, designations, and roles formally recorded
Halal Executive qualification verified — appointment letter on file, qualifications meet JAKIM requirements
JKHD meeting minutes complete — all meetings from the past 12 months signed, dated, and filed
Halal policy signed and current — company halal policy reviewed and re-signed by senior management in the past review cycle
Organisational chart current — reflects actual structure, available for inspection
Halal Executive contact details registered — updated with JAKIM's records
Common failure point: JKHD minutes exist but are unsigned, undated, or stored only on an individual's personal drive rather than a shared, accessible system.
Section 2 — Documentation and HAS Manual
Your Halal Assurance System (HAS) documentation must be comprehensive, version-controlled, and retrievable within minutes during an audit.
HAS manual current and version-controlled — latest version distributed to all relevant departments
SOPs complete for all halal-critical processes — procurement, production, storage, distribution, cleaning
IHCS (Internal Halal Control System) documented — all internal controls described, mapped to HCPs
Document register up to date — all documents logged with version history
Document access confirmed — relevant staff can access current procedures, not outdated versions
Malay and English versions aligned — where bilingual SOPs exist, ensure no discrepancies
Auditor perspective: Gaps in document version control — particularly outdated SOPs still in circulation — are among the most cited non-conformities in JAKIM audit reports.
Section 3 — Halal Control Points (HCP) Verification
HCPs are the specific stages in your process where halal integrity is at highest risk. Your HCP documentation must demonstrate active, ongoing monitoring — not just identification.
All HCPs identified and mapped — full list with process reference and risk description
HCP monitoring records complete — monitoring logs for each HCP covering the past certification period
Responsible persons named for each HCP — clear accountability documented
Corrective procedures defined — documented response procedures for each HCP failure scenario
Tip: Prepare a one-page HCP summary that an auditor can review quickly. This demonstrates structured thinking and makes the audit more efficient.
Section 4 — Supplier and Raw Material Compliance
This section represents one of the highest-risk areas in any JAKIM audit. Every ingredient, additive, packaging material, and processing aid with halal implications must be verified.
Supplier halal certificates collected — valid certificates on file for all halal-critical suppliers
Certificate expiry dates checked — no expired certificates; renewals in progress where approaching expiry
Supplier list current — reflects all active suppliers, including any added since last audit
Raw material register updated — every ingredient cross-referenced to a valid halal certificate
Certificates from JAKIM-recognised bodies — verify that supplier certificates are from bodies JAKIM accepts
New supplier onboarding records — documentation showing halal verification was completed before first use
Alternative suppliers documented — if primary supplier was changed, records of the transition
Critical note: A single unverified or expired supplier certificate can result in a major NCR. Do not assume certificates are still valid — verify against the original documents today.
Section 5 — Internal Audit Records
MHMS 2020 requires structured internal audits, not informal walkthroughs. Auditors will review your internal audit records as evidence that your IHCS functions continuously.
Internal audit schedule followed — audits conducted as planned, not skipped or delayed without documentation
Internal audit reports complete — structured findings against MHMS 2020 criteria, not freeform notes
All NCRs logged formally — with date raised, description, root cause, and assigned owner
NCR corrective actions documented — evidence of action taken, not just action planned
NCRs closed with evidence — closure requires documented verification, not self-declaration
Previous JAKIM audit NCRs resolved — ensure all items from the last external audit are fully closed
Common failure point: NCRs raised during internal audits are never formally closed because there is no system to track them to completion. Auditors view this as evidence that the IHCS is not functioning.
Section 6 — Staff Training and Competency
Training records must demonstrate that everyone who touches halal-critical processes has received appropriate, current halal training.
Training register complete — all staff in halal-sensitive roles listed with training dates
Training content appropriate — covers halal principles relevant to each role, not generic
Refresher training scheduled — training is not one-time; a schedule for refreshers exists
New staff training documented — records for any staff hired since the last audit
Halal Executive training current — Halal Executive's own qualifications and CPD records available
Section 7 — Facility and Physical Compliance
Physical conditions in your facility must align with what your documentation describes. Auditors will compare your SOPs against what they observe.
Facility zoning matches IHCS documentation — halal and non-halal zones (if applicable) clearly demarcated
Cleaning and sanitation records current — Sertu (ritual purification) procedures documented where required
Equipment dedicated or validated — shared equipment protocols match IHCS documentation
Signage appropriate — halal control areas marked, visible, and accurate
Pest control records available — using halal-compliant methods with valid certificates from the provider
Section 8 — Final Pre-Audit Review
In the week before your audit, complete this final readiness review:
Compile an audit evidence folder — physical or digital, with every document organised by MHMS pillar
Brief all key staff — JKHD members and HCP operators know their roles during the audit
Walk the production floor — compare what you see against your documentation; close any visible gaps
Prepare a facility walkthrough route — know which areas the auditor will visit and in what sequence
Confirm document retrieval — test that any document can be located within two minutes
After the Audit: What Happens with NCRs
When an auditor raises an NCR, it is not a failure — it is information. How you respond to NCRs matters as much as receiving none.
For every NCR received:
Record the finding formally, with the auditor's exact wording
Assign a root cause analysis to a named owner with a deadline
Document corrective and preventive actions
Gather evidence of implementation
Close the NCR formally through the required JAKIM process
NCRs left unresolved or poorly documented at the next audit cycle become major findings. Systems that track NCRs from issue to closure — not just to action — are what separate audit-ready organisations from those that consistently struggle.
How TAQYID Supports Audit Readiness
Managing this checklist manually — across spreadsheets, shared drives, and email threads — is where most compliance teams lose time and miss items.
TAQYID's audit management module was designed around exactly this workflow. Internal audit schedules, structured checklists aligned to MHMS 2020, NCR tracking with escalation and closure confirmation, and a centralised evidence repository — all in one place, accessible to your entire JKHD.
Audit day should confirm what you already know about your compliance status — not reveal what you did not track.