New digital halal certificates with QR codes in S'pore from Oct. 1

Starting from Oct. 1, new digital halal certificates (e-certs) will be rolled out for halal-certified food establishments, according to a press release from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

This announcement was made on Sep. 24 at the Singapore Halal International Seminar.

New halal e-cert

The new halal e-cert will feature a QR code which allows members of the public to instantly access detailed and updated real-time information on the certificate through their mobile devices.

The QR code can be scanned to verify the authenticity and validity of the halal certification.

Digital certificates that are not in working order can also be reported immediately to MUIS.

While the digital certificates will roll out from Oct. 1, 2025, businesses will only be required to change to the new certificates from March 2026, according to a report by CNA.

MUIS mentioned that this was part of their broader digitalisation efforts to help improve transparency and streamline administrative processes.

New enhanced framework for FHCBs

MUIS also announced a new enhanced framework for foreign halal certification bodies (FHCB) seeking recognition in Singapore.

The FHCB Recognition Scheme makes sure imported products meet Singapore’s stringent halal standards.

Under this new enhanced framework, foreign businesses will be able to submit their applications digitally through an online portal instead of through email.

The new system allows FHCBs to monitor the status of their application and recognition in real-time.

The new enhanced framework will also reduce FHCB processing from at least six months to a maximum of three months.

In addition to this, businesses will be able to gain access to a list of recognised FHCBs for imported halal food, increasing the confidence of local businesses in the importing and selling of halal-certified products.

For consumers, there will be greater transparency for them to make more informed choices about halal-certified products.

This new framework will be implemented from Oct. 1 onwards.

 Top image via MUIS.SG/Facebook