From October 21-23, 2024, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Halal Certification Authority (HALCERT), under the Vietnam Certification Center (QUACERT), hosted working sessions and signed strategic cooperation agreements with four international Halal organizations: the Korea Halal Agency (KHA), the European Halal Certification Center (ECC), the Halal Academy of GAE Resources Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), as part of the “Fostering International Cooperation and Mobilizing Internal Resources for the Dvelopment of Vietnam’s Halal Industry” conference.

Collaborative Opportunities with the Korea Halal Agency (KHA)

Ms. Safiah Kim Weon-suk, Executive Director of KHA, highlighted Korea’s rising demand for Halal products, especially in the food and cosmetics sectors, alongside efforts to boost Halal tourism to attract Muslim visitors. Korea has introduced a set of six standards for the Halal industry, with a notable focus on Halal cosmetics—a niche sector that many other countries have yet to prioritize.

Overviews of the meeting session

Ms. Safiah shared, “…We must intensify our cooperation to raise market awareness about Halal products, showing that Halal items are not only clean but also of high quality and offer great value for money…”

Delegation from KHA

Ms. Safiah and her team expressed strong optimism about the potential collaboration between KHA and HALCERT/QUACERT in organizing seminars and conferences to increase market awareness of Halal products. With Korea’s established Halal laboratory facilities, KHA is also ready to support Vietnam by offering access to its advanced infrastructure and transferring technology to enable HALCERT to establish a Halal laboratory domestically in the future.

KHA delegation takes commemorative photos with HALCERT/QUACERT

QUACERT and HALCERT view this collaboration as a vital opportunity for Vietnam to both expand its Halal product market and enhance its certification capabilities. Mr. Ramlan Bin Osman, Head of HALCERT, stated, “We believe that Vietnamese businesses will not only gain easier access to the Korean market but will also benefit from KHA’s modern production and inspection processes, enabling them to meet stringent Halal standards and strengthen their competitiveness.”

At the close of the session, KHA and HALCERT successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding, paving the way for continued cooperation in export prioritization, technology transfer, and technical training.

KHA and HALCERT sign Memorandum of Understanding

European Market: Strengthening Collaboration with the European Halal Certification Center (ECC)

The partnership agreement between HALCERT and ECC opens doors for Vietnamese Halal-certified products to enter Europe, a demanding market with stringent transparency requirements. Mr. Miran Ismael, ECC representative, shared, “We are highly impressed with Vietnam’s commitment to advancing its Halal industry and believe that Vietnamese products have great potential to meet Europe’s rigorous standards.”

However, Mr. Ismael pointed out that there are still significant gaps in Halal certification understanding in both Vietnam and Europe, where the general public’s awareness remains limited due to their non-Muslim-majority contexts. Recognizing this, Mr. Ismael and ECC are fully aligned with HALCERT’s mission to make Halal standards more transparent, accessible, and easily understood by the public. This collaborative effort aims not only to clarify Halal for the broader population but also to increase demand for these products.

ECC and HALCERT sign Memorandum of Understanding

By signing this MoU with ECC, Vietnamese Halal certification will have the opportunity to gain recognition in the EU market, opening new avenues for Vietnamese Halal products and boosting the growth of this promising sector. Mr. Tran Quoc Dung, Director of QUACERT, commented, “Vietnamese businesses will gain valuable insights into the European Halal standards system, equipping their products not only to meet domestic requirements but also to compete robustly on the international stage.”

Mr. Miran Ismael takes commemorative photos with HALCERT/QUACERT

Workforce Training with the Halal Academy of GAE Resources (Malaysia)

In addition to market expansion, the collaboration with Malaysia's Halal Academy under GAE Resources supports QUACERT and HALCERT in building an internationally qualified workforce for Vietnam's Halal sector. Mr. Kamal Mohd Noor, CEO of GAE Resources, stated, “GAE Resources, and specifically the Halal Academy, have been Strategic Partners of JAKIM—one of the world’s largest Halal authorities—for years. We have extensive experience in developing a comprehensive Halal training system, and we are eager to share this knowledge to help Vietnam establish a highly skilled team of quality assessors.”

GAE Resources and HALCERT sign Memorandum of Understanding

Under the newly signed MoU, the Halal Academy will conduct intensive training courses to enhance HALCERT’s technical expertise. These programs will include practical Halal standards application in factories, inspection, and evaluation of production processes to ensure compliance with international standards. “We believe this partnership will provide a highly skilled workforce, improve the quality of Vietnamese Halal products, and build trust with international partners,” shared Mr. Ramlan. Additionally, GAE Resources is prepared to send Halal assessors from Malaysia to work alongside HALCERT experts in Vietnam, conducting compliance assessments based on Malaysian Halal standards. This collaboration is aimed at building credibility for Vietnam’s Halal certification, moving towards recognition by JAKIM.

Building Regional Credibility with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)

Overviews of the working session with MUIS Singapore

With strict standards and inspection processes, Singapore has long been one of the most reputable countries in not only Halal but also numerous other general quality standards in the region. In Singapore, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) is a highly respected authority, as they are the only entity legally authorized to conduct Halal certification, recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. MUIS also has extensive experience and international relationships, having collaborated with Indonesia, the ASEAN Halal Working Group, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.

Sharing at the meeting, Mr. Mohammad Faizal Bin Othman, Deputy Director of MUIS, stated: “MUIS and HALCERT have many similarities in terms of structure as both are state-managed Halal certification authorities; therefore, the potential for collaboration between the two agencies is substantial. This cooperation will enable Vietnam to learn from and apply a transparent Halal model, thereby building trust in Vietnamese Halal products in Singapore and the ASEAN region.”

Mr. Mohammad Faizal bin Othman, Deputy Director of MUIS at the working session

MUIS Representative presents commemorative gift to Mr. Ramlan Bin Osman – Director of HALCERT

Representing the National Halal Certification Center at the meeting, Mr. Ramlan stated that learning from MUIS’s inspection system would help Vietnam achieve credible standards, facilitating Halal certification processes for exports to demanding markets. “This collaboration not only enhances the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses but also strengthens the reputation of the Vietnamese Halal brand in the eyes of regional consumers.” Mr. Tran Quoc Dung, Director of QUACERT, also supported this initiative and expressed openness to further cooperation, aiming towards a Memorandum of Understanding for mutual recognition of Halal certification results between the two organizations in the future.

MUIS Delegation takes commemorative photos with HALCERT/QUACERT

Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam’s Halal Sector

The signing ceremonies within the framework of the Halal 2024 Conference have opened new prospects for Vietnam's Halal industry, with the support of top strategic partners. QUACERT and HALCERT anticipate that, through training programs, experience-sharing, and technical support from KHA, ECC, GAE Resources, and MUIS, Vietnam will rapidly advance its Halal production and certification capabilities to meet international standards, optimize certification processes, and achieve recognition by global Halal organizations. This development aims to elevate Vietnam’s Halal industry on the global stage and promote sustainable growth for the national economy.

Hong Quan – Vietnam Certification Center (QUACERT)