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Halal Compliance Glossary

Halal Compliance Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the JAKIM halal certification terms Malaysian manufacturers meet most: MHMS 2020, MPPHM, IHCS, HAS, HCP, JKHD, sertu, NCR and the roles around them.

Each regulatory definition is anchored to a JAKIM primary document (MHMS 2020, MPPHM 2020 Pindaan 2026). Citations are shown per term so you can verify them against the standard.

MHMS 2020

Malaysian Halal Management System

What is MHMS 2020 (the Malaysian Halal Management System)?

The Malaysian Halal Management System (MHMS 2020) is the integrated management system a company develops, implements and maintains to manage its products and services and to sustain halal assurance. Under MHMS 2020, that assurance is delivered through one of two regimes: the Internal Halal Control System (IHCS) or the Halal Assurance System (HAS).

Published by JAKIM, MHMS 2020 defines the terms, general requirements and scheme-specific requirements that govern halal management for certified organisations in Malaysia.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(18)

HAS

Halal Assurance System / Sistem Jaminan Halal

What is HAS (the Halal Assurance System)?

The Halal Assurance System (HAS) is a set of procedures an organisation uses to achieve its objective of maintaining comprehensive halal assurance. It is one of the two halal-management regimes recognised under MHMS 2020, alongside the lighter-scope Internal Halal Control System (IHCS).

A company operating HAS documents it in a HAS Manual and evaluates its effectiveness through a HAS review carried out by top management.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(16)

IHCS

Internal Halal Control System / Sistem Kawalan Halal Dalaman

What is IHCS (the Internal Halal Control System)?

The Internal Halal Control System (IHCS) is an organisation's internal halal control procedure. Under MHMS 2020 it comprises a halal policy, a raw-material control procedure or a halal-risk control procedure, and a traceability procedure — set as the minimum control measures required to maintain halal assurance.

IHCS is defined as the minimum control measures, whereas the Halal Assurance System (HAS) is the comprehensive procedure set. Which regime a company must follow depends on its certification scheme.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(17)

Manual HAS

HAS Manual

What is a HAS Manual (Manual HAS)?

A HAS Manual (Manual HAS) is the document that a company and/or applicant develops as a guide for implementing its Halal Assurance System (HAS). It gathers, in one reference document, how the organisation puts its halal-assurance procedures into practice.

Because HAS is defined as a set of procedures, the HAS Manual is where those procedures are written down and made auditable for JAKIM and for the internal halal committee.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(10)

HCP

Halal Control Point

What is a Halal Control Point (HCP)?

A Halal Control Point (HCP) is a point of halal control that must be identified and where control is applied, so that contamination can be prevented or eliminated to ensure halal compliance along the supply chain. Identifying HCPs is a core step in building a halal risk-management plan.

Under MHMS 2020, HCP determination feeds the halal risk-management plan, which pairs each HCP with its halal risk, a control mechanism, corrective action and records.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(4)

JKHD

Jawatankuasa Halal Dalaman / Internal Halal Committee

What is the JKHD (Internal Halal Committee)?

The Jawatankuasa Halal Dalaman (JKHD), or Internal Halal Committee, is a committee formally appointed in writing by a company's top management. It is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring and controlling the effectiveness of the Halal Assurance System (HAS) and compliance with Malaysian Halal Certification requirements.

The JKHD also appoints the qualified internal halal auditors who carry out the internal halal audits.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(5)

Eksekutif Halal

Halal Executive

What is a Halal Executive (Eksekutif Halal)?

The Halal Executive (Eksekutif Halal) is the individual responsible for ensuring halal compliance at a company or premises. MHMS 2020 sets specific eligibility conditions: the person must be Muslim, a Malaysian citizen, hold a permanent position, meet a minimum halal-management qualification, and hold a Halal Executive Certificate.

The minimum qualification is a Diploma in Halal Management (or an equivalent), or at least five years' experience in halal management; the certificate must come from a training provider registered under HPB.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(3)

Juruaudit Halal Dalaman

Internal Halal Auditor

What is an Internal Halal Auditor (Juruaudit Halal Dalaman)?

The Internal Halal Auditor (Juruaudit Halal Dalaman) is an individual appointed by the JKHD who is qualified, experienced and competent to carry out internal halal audits. The role is defined in MHMS 2020 as part of a certified organisation’s internal halal governance.

The internal halal audit is the inspection a company plans and runs itself to verify it still meets Malaysian Halal Certification requirements — distinct from the external audit JAKIM performs.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(6)

Audit Halal Dalaman

Internal Halal Audit

What is an Internal Halal Audit (Audit Halal Dalaman)?

An Internal Halal Audit (Audit Halal Dalaman) is the inspection or audit that a company plans and carries out internally to ensure it complies with Malaysian Halal Certification requirements. It is one of the core procedures a certified organisation runs under its own halal-management system.

It is conducted by internal halal auditors appointed by the JKHD, and is distinct from the external audit (pengauditan) that JAKIM performs.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(1)

Sertu

Ritual cleansing / Samak

What is sertu (ritual cleansing)?

Sertu is the ritual cleansing of body parts, clothing, places, tools and equipment that have come into contact with najis mughallazah — namely dogs, pigs and their descendants. Under MHMS 2020 it is performed by washing seven times, one of which uses water mixed with soil.

It is best for the first of the washes to be the one mixed with soil, followed by six washes using clean or absolute water.

Source: MHMS 2020, Article 4(19)

MPPHM 2020 (Pindaan 2026)

Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia (Domestik)

What is MPPHM 2020 (Pindaan 2026)?

MPPHM is the Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia (Domestik) — the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual — and the main reference document for domestic halal certification. The 2020 edition took effect on 1 January 2021; the Pindaan 2026 amendment, issued as Pekeliling Bilangan 1 Tahun 2026, took effect on 1 April 2026.

MPPHM is organised into named sections (Bahagian I to XV) covering application, auditing, monitoring and certification — not numbered articles. The 2026 amendment also enforces MS 2738:2023 for the consumer-goods scheme.

Source: MPPHM 2020 (Pindaan 2026), Pekeliling Bilangan 1 Tahun 2026

NCR

Non-Conformance / Ketidakakuran

What is an NCR (non-conformance) in halal certification?

An NCR, or non-conformance (ketidakakuran), is a finding that a certificate holder has failed to meet a Malaysian Halal Certification requirement. Under MPPHM 2020 (Pindaan 2026), non-conformities are classified into three categories: KECIL (minor), BESAR (major) and SERIUS (serious).

The category determines the action taken. For example, an employee failing to attend halal training is listed as a minor (KECIL) non-conformity, while a serious (SERIUS) Shariah non-conformity can lead to withdrawal (revocation) of the certificate.

Source: MPPHM 2020 (Pindaan 2026), Bahagian VII (Pemantauan)