Myanmar’s Halal Certification Dilemma: A Call for Innovation and Sustainability

Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has a Muslim population of nearly 5% of its total. The country is facing significant challenges in the availability of halal-certified foods. In response to the growing demand from the Muslim community and the expansion of processed foods, Myanmar has seen its religious organizations begin issuing halal certificates. Currently, five main organizations issue halal certification in Myanmar. However, the lack of a central or supreme Muslim authority has resulted in a fragmented system with no standardized guidelines, national halal logos, and procedures, or reference laboratories for the certification process. While these organizations base their certifications on the Quran and Sunnah, the absence of centralized authority and standardized practices has led to widespread confusion among Burmese Muslims.

Overview of Myanmar Halal Industry

This confusion is further escalated by the lack of transparency and validated guidelines, leading to differing interpretations and practices among the organizations. Muslims following guidance from Jamat Ulama El-Islam use certified foods from these organizations, while those adhering to the Islamic Religious Affairs Council follow different certifications. Other organizations such as Myanmar Muslim Ulama Organisation and All Myanmar Moulvi (Ulama Al HAQ) Organisation also issue certifications, creating a situation where some Muslims rely on certified foods from all sources, while others avoid certifications altogether, opting instead to purchase food only from Muslim-owned businesses. Many businesses simply label their products as “Halal,” and this Halal tag is sometimes even seen on products made with restricted items such as pork. Recently, a new entity called Myanmar Halal Service (MHS) has emerged, though its status as a business entity or non-profit organization remains unclear. This entity has promised to develop a more systematic halal certification process by involving Islamic scholars and academics. However, instead of consolidating the existing certification bodies, Myanmar Halal Service has positioned itself as a separate certification authority. It claims to follow the Halal Standard Guideline, MHG 001/2022, but there is no publicly available information about this guideline, and the organization does not have a website. The absence of a unified system has created significant challenges in ensuring the consistent availability of halal-certified food in Myanmar, impacting the confidence and trust of the Muslim community in the existing certification processes.

Institutionalized Marginalization of Burmese Muslims

In addition, Burmese Muslims continue to endure severe oppression and face restricted access to education and other basic human rights. Since the 1962 military coup in Burma, the Burmese Muslim community has faced a range of institutionalized discrimination. Muslims have been largely excluded from civil service roles, except for a few departments such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. These departments are classified as less significant by the military government as they do not directly contribute to state revenue, and their budgets are among the lowest compared to other ministries like the Ministry of Defence. Due to a shortage of teachers and healthcare workers, Muslims are still permitted to serve in these sectors but are rarely promoted beyond positions such as Lecturer or Professor. Administrative roles such as Rector or Director are entirely off-limits to them. As most Muslims within various administrative departments, including the defense forces, have retired, their presence in governmental administration has been almost entirely eradicated, further marginalizing the community and deepening the systemic discrimination they face. For instance, institutionalized discrimination within the Ministry of Immigration has led to many Muslims, despite being born and having lived in Myanmar for generations, being denied citizenship ID cards and instead being issued only other forms of verification ID. Without citizenship IDs, numerous Burmese Muslims and Rohingya are unable to pursue higher education, and some are even denied their diplomas upon completing their bachelor’s programs.

Challenges in Harmonizing National Halal Standards

Despite the existence of the “ASEAN General Guidelines on the Preparation and Handling of Halal Food,” Myanmar’s authorities have largely disregarded these regulations. This neglect stems from the pervasive marginalization of Muslims within the country’s administrative framework. Since the preparation and handling of halal food are perceived as concerns exclusive to the Muslim community, the guidelines have not received the necessary attention or enforcement by the relevant authorities. Furthermore, this marginalization extends to a lack of awareness among many Muslim organizations within Myanmar, which remain uninformed about these important ASEAN guidelines that could significantly improve halal food standards in the country. Adding to the complexity is the educational background of many Muslim scholars in Myanmar. Burma became part of British India following the British conquest of Burma in 1885, leading to stronger connections between Muslims in India and Burma. Consequently, most of these scholars have been educated in South Asia, particularly in countries like Pakistan and India, where the Hanafi School of Thought predominates. These scholars, who often speak Urdu, maintain strong connections with South Asian religious communities and institutions. As a result, they may not recognize or adhere to guidelines based on the Shafi’i School of Thought, which is more commonly followed in Southeast Asia, including in ASEAN guidelines.

This divergence in Islamic jurisprudence creates significant challenges for the Muslim community in Myanmar, particularly when it comes to defining what is considered halal. For instance, in the Hanafi School of Thought, seafood such as squid and octopus are not considered halal, while they are deemed permissible under the Shafi’i School of Thought. This difference in interpretation leads to confusion and inconsistency in halal certification and food practices among Burmese Muslims. The lack of a unified approach to halal standards further complicates efforts to establish a cohesive and reliable halal certification system within the country. This fragmentation within the Muslim community, coupled with insufficient governmental support, makes standardizing halal practices particularly difficult. The lack of a cohesive framework means that establishing and maintaining uniform halal standards is a significant challenge. Moreover, the absence of standardized guidelines, reference laboratories, and cooperation among different religious institutions highlights the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions.

Call for Innovation and Sustainability

The current halal certification system in Myanmar lacks key sustainability features, constraining progress on the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This deficiency affects the quality and consistency of halal food, leading to consumer doubts about whether products truly meet halal standards. These issues are not just about food quality but also impact Myanmar’s broader development objectives. The MSDP aims for growth in areas like food security and environmental protection, but the lack of sustainable practices in halal certification prevents alignment with these goals and the SDGs. Moreover, the system’s shortcomings reflect deeper issues of religious marginalization. It fails to address the diverse needs of the Muslim community, highlighting difficulties in integrating various Islamic practices into a unified national framework. To address these challenges, Myanmar needs a more integrated approach that combines religious practices with sustainable development. A certification system that incorporates sustainability would improve halal food quality, support development goals, and better serve the Muslim population.