Halal Certification for Philippine Exporters: Requirements and Process

If a Philippine product will be exported as Halal, it must undergo certification from an accredited Halal certification body, comply with the applicable Philippine National Standards for Halal (or recognized international or foreign standards), and be registered with the national regulatory agency concerned. These three conditions come from Section 11 of Republic Act No. 10817, the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act of 2016. Certification is not optional for exports labeled Halal. For products sold only in the domestic market, Halal certification is voluntary.

What "Halal" and "Certification" Mean Under the Law

Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10817 defines Halal as lawful or permissible under Sharia'h (Islamic Law). Certification is the third-party attestation of conformance to standards and guidelines related to products, processes, systems, or persons. Accreditation, in turn, is the procedure by which a government agency formally attests to the competence of an inspection or certification body to provide inspection and certification services.

The distinction matters. An exporter does not self-declare Halal. A certification body — one that has itself been accredited — issues the certification.

The Three Requirements for Halal Exports

Under Section 11 of the law, all Philippine products exported as Halal, and processes and services whose outputs or benefits accrue outside Philippine territory, must:

1. Undergo certification from an accredited Halal certification body;
2. Comply with the appropriate Philippine National Standards for Halal as developed, or with international or foreign standards recognized, by the standard setting agencies identified in Section 10; and
3. Be registered with the national regulatory agency concerned.

Only after complying with these conditions may a producer, manufacturer, processor, trader, exporter, or service provider use the Philippine Halal Logo — and only with the permission of the relevant regulatory agency. The logo may be affixed on products, packaging, letterheads, brochures, leaflets, and other media.

Who Accredits Halal Certification Bodies

The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) handles accreditation. Under Section 9, the PAB is empowered to formulate accreditation policies and guidelines governing the accreditation of Halal certification bodies, and to grant or deny accreditation, or suspend or withdraw it, under those policies.

In doing so, the PAB consults and, when necessary, collaborates with the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board, its member agencies, and Halal industry stakeholders.

Which Agency Sets the Halal Standards

Section 10 assigns the development of Philippine National Standards for Halal to specific agencies:

• Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) for primary and post-harvest foods;
• Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for processed and prepackaged foods, drugs, and cosmetics; and
• Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) for nonfood products aside from drugs and cosmetics.

Other products, processes, and services needing standards not covered by these agencies are assigned by the Halal Board to the appropriate government agency.

The Halal Board and Export Promotion Support

The Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board is the policy-making body on Halal export development, attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, and chaired by the DTI Secretary with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos as Vice Chairperson (Sections 5 and 7).

Under Section 12, the DTI's Export Marketing Bureau, in coordination with the DA, the DOH, and other agencies, supports exporters through business matching, trade and market information, trade fairs and business missions, seminars and workshops on export documentation and procedures, product design and development, and market and product consultancy. The DTI and the DA also task their Foreign Trade Service Corps and Foreign Agriculture Service Corps to conduct commercial intelligence and marketing activities, while the DTI, NCMF, and DFA pursue recognition of accredited Halal certification bodies and certified products abroad.

Domestic Market Rules Are Different

Halal certification for products, processes, and services for domestic consumption is voluntary on the part of the producer, manufacturer, trader, retailer, or service provider (Section 11[c]). Those catering to the domestic market who have undergone voluntary certification from accredited Halal certification bodies may apply and be granted permission to use the Philippine Halal Logo on their products, establishments, or facilities (Section 11[d]).

Frequently asked questions

Is Halal certification required to export from the Philippines? Yes. If a product will be exported as Halal, Section 11 of Republic Act No. 10817 requires certification from an accredited Halal certification body, compliance with the applicable Halal standards, and registration with the national regulatory agency concerned.

Who issues Halal certification in the Philippines? Certification is issued by Halal certification bodies accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau, which formulates the accreditation policies and guidelines and may grant, deny, suspend, or withdraw accreditation.

Can I use the Philippine Halal Logo? Yes, with the permission of the relevant regulatory agency, but only after complying with the certification, standards compliance, and registration conditions under Section 11.

Practical takeaways

• Treat certification, standards compliance, and regulatory registration as three separate steps — all are required for Halal exports under Section 11.
• Verify that your chosen certification body is accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau before engaging it.
• Confirm which agency sets the standard for your product: BAFS for primary and post-harvest foods, FDA for processed and prepackaged foods, drugs, and cosmetics, and BPS for nonfood products.
• Use the Philippine Halal Logo only after securing permission from the relevant regulatory agency.
• Domestic-only sellers face voluntary certification, but voluntary certification can open the door to logo use on products, establishments, or facilities.

Primary sources

The rules discussed above are drawn from the following primary sources, as published in the Official Gazette and the national statute book.

• REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10817 - AN ACT INSTITUTING THE PHILIPPINE HALAL EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION PROGRAM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE PHILIPPINE HALAL EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION BOARD, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

This article is general information and not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer or ask ASG Legal AI.