Halal Guide

Check Your Restaurant's Eligibility Before Applying

A pre-application check of licences, operations, menu and basic requirements.

Last reviewed 5 November 2026

A new restaurant cannot necessarily apply for the SPHM (Sijil Pengesahan Halal Malaysia, the Malaysia Halal Certificate) on its opening day. Under the amended MPPHM (Manual Prosedur Pensijilan Halal Malaysia, the Malaysia Halal Certification Procedure Manual), new applicants need to have operated fully for at least three months before applying.

Eligibility checklist

  • The business has an SSM registration or a recognised registration document.
  • The premises licence or approval from the PBT (Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan, the local authority) or relevant agency is still valid.
  • The Food Premises Registration with the Bahagian Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan (BKKM/KKM, the Food Safety and Quality Division of the Ministry of Health) is still valid.
  • For a new application, the premises have operated fully for at least three months.
  • All food/drinks and traded products at the premises meet halal requirements.
  • Every actual menu item can be registered, not only selected items.
  • A permanently employed Muslim worker who is a Malaysian citizen can be on duty throughout operating hours or for every shift.
  • A Penyelia Halal (Halal Supervisor) has been appointed; implementation of the IHCS can be shown.
  • Food handlers have training and a valid anti-typhoid vaccination.
  • Raw materials and suppliers can be traced and are supported by documents.

Example situations

Restaurant A has been operating for six months, but the halal certificate for its main sauce has expired. Action: check the supplier's status and get the latest documents, or change the ingredient, before applying.

Restaurant B opened just three weeks ago. Action: complete the licences, training and ingredient register and start keeping operating records; wait until it meets the minimum operating period.

Restaurant C serves non-halal dishes alongside its halal menu. Action: the current operating model is not eligible under this restaurant scheme; the whole operation needs to change, not just a few items set aside for the application.

Initial decision

Initial eligibility decisionStart by checking whether the business and premises are registered; if not, complete the registration or licence. If yes, check for at least 3 months of full operation, then whether all menu items and ingredients are halal compliant, then whether workers, training and the IHCS are in place. A no at any step leads to fixing that gap first; a yes at every step means you can move on to preparing the application.NoYesNoYesNo / not sure yetYesNoYes

Are the business and premises registered?

Complete registration / licence

Full operation for at least 3 months?

Start records and wait until the period requirement is met

All menu items and ingredients halal compliant?

Fix menu, ingredients and evidence

Workers, training, IHCS in place?

Set up internal controls

Can move on to preparing the application
Initial eligibility decision

Important: A tick means ready to be screened, not a guarantee of approval. Additional requirements may depend on the actual activities and conditions of the premises.

Official sources and editorial notes

Note: ManaHalal is an independent information platform, not a body that issues the SPHM. This guide was updated based on official sources reviewed on 5 November 2026. Final decisions and requirements are subject to JAKIM, MAIN/JAIN (Majlis/Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri, the state Islamic religious councils and departments) and the latest notices.