New Achievement for the Palestinian Standards Institution: Malaysia Recognizes Palestinian Halal Certificates and Opens New Opportunities for National Exports
New Achievement for the Palestinian Standards Institution: Malaysia Recognizes Palestinian Halal Certificates and Opens New Opportunities for National Exports
Ramallah – In yet another achievement in support of Palestinian industry and the national economy, and as part of its efforts to open new markets for Palestinian products, the Palestinian Standards Institution (PSI) announces that it has obtained official recognition from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).
Under an official certificate issued by JAKIM, PSI has been recognized as a foreign Halal certification body authorized to issue Halal certificates in Palestine for food and beverages and raw materials, cosmetics and personal care products, and pharmaceutical products.
The recognition was granted after PSI fulfilled the Malaysian requirements and successfully completed a comprehensive technical audit conducted over two days. Due to the Malaysian audit team being unable to travel to Palestine, the Malaysian side agreed to conduct the audit remotely via video conferencing, with the follow-up and support of the International Chamber of Commerce in Palestine (ICC Palestine).
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of PSI, Minister of Industry Arafat Asfour, said:
“This recognition is the result of joint efforts between the Institution and its partners. It underscores the importance of developing the national quality infrastructure in supporting Palestinian industry. We will build on this achievement to open further markets for national products and enhance their competitiveness.”
For his part, PSI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Haider Hijjeh said:
“The Malaysian recognition reflects PSI’s competence and its ability to meet international technical requirements. It represents another step in our efforts to strengthen international recognition of Palestinian certificates and facilitate the access of national products to new markets, in support of Palestinian industry and the national economy.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Mr. Abdo Idrisaffirmed that this achievement comes within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – Palestine Single Market Initiative, one of the initiatives operating under the umbrella of the International Chamber of Commerce in Palestine (ICC Palestine) within the Federation of Palestinian Chambers.
The initiative aims to open the markets of OIC member states to Palestinian products and remove the technical and regulatory barriers that hinder their access to these markets. It also seeks to facilitate the entry of Palestinian products into OIC member-state markets, strengthen recognition of Palestinian certificates and standards, and address the technical and regulatory barriers faced by exporters.
This recognition adds to PSI’s ongoing efforts to develop its technical services and strengthen international recognition of Palestinian certificates. It will help producers overcome technical barriers to exports and support the presence of national products in international markets. The experience of conducting the audit remotely also provides a practical model that can be built upon in pursuing similar recognition from other countries.
This achievement was made possible through a partnership between the Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the International Chamber of Commerce in Palestine, and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), within the framework of the OIC Single Market Initiative. The initiative aims to facilitate the access of Palestinian products to the markets of OIC member states, strengthen recognition of Palestinian certificates and standards, and address the technical and regulatory barriers facing exporters.
The Institution also highlights the previous role of the Export Development Programme, funded by the British Government, in supporting efforts to open international markets to national products.
It is worth noting that the International Chamber of Commerce in Palestine (ICC Palestine) was established within the Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. Its establishment was officially announced on 12 August 2026 during an event held under the patronage and in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa.
