By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

In Singapore, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, known as MUIS, is the authority that issues halal certification for products made here and for food premises. Imported products work differently: MUIS does not certify food manufactured overseas, and instead recognises foreign halal certification bodies whose standards it has assessed. So the check at the supermarket shelf is simple. A local product should carry the MUIS halal mark. An imported one should carry the mark of a certifier that MUIS recognises, and MUIS publishes that list.

This page explains how to read both, what applies to food prepared in store, and where to ask when a label leaves you unsure. It describes the certification system. Questions of religious practice belong with MUIS and with your own religious guidance.

Halal groceries: quick facts

Local products and premises	Certified by MUIS, which carries the MUIS halal mark
Imported products	Certified by foreign halal certification bodies that MUIS recognises; MUIS itself does not certify food made overseas
Recognised foreign certifiers	101 as of September 2025, listed in a searchable portal at fhcb.muis.gov.sg
Certificates at premises	MUIS moved to digital, QR-coded certificates from October 2025, replacing physical versions by March 2026
In-store counters	Covered only if that counter or kitchen is itself certified
When unsure	Ask the store, check MUIS’s official channels, or contact MUIS

The WahLiao Verdict

Cost	Nothing. A few seconds per label once you know where to look.
What you get	A clear way to check local, imported and in-store food against Singapore’s certification system.
The alternative	Relying on the look of a logo or a sign that says “no pork, no lard”, neither of which is certification by itself.
Worth it for	Muslim households, anyone cooking for Muslim family, friends or colleagues, and hosts preparing for Hari Raya visits.
Skip it if	You only buy from outlets and brands you have already verified.
Last verified	28 September 2026, against MUIS’s foreign certification body portal and published MUIS announcements.

Who certifies halal food in Singapore?

MUIS is the authority legally empowered to issue halal certificates in Singapore. It certifies locally made products, food establishments and other premises such as central kitchens and poultry abattoirs, against the Singapore MUIS Halal Standards. Its halal mark is also recognised by certifiers in several other countries, which matters for Singapore companies that export.

For certified premises, MUIS moved to fully digital certificates with a QR code from October 2025, and outlets were to replace their physical certificates by March 2026. At a certified food outlet or counter, the certificate on display should now be the digital version.

How do you check a local product?

Look for the MUIS halal mark on the pack. It belongs to a specific product made by a specific certified manufacturer, so it covers that product, not the brand’s whole range. If a brand sells a certified sauce and an uncertified one side by side, only the one with the mark is certified. When in doubt, MUIS’s official channels let you check certification status.

How do you check an imported product?

Because MUIS does not certify food made overseas, imported halal products carry the logo of a foreign halal certification body, such as the national certifier of the country where the product was made. MUIS recognises foreign certifiers whose standards it has assessed as aligned with Singapore’s, and it launched a portal in 2025 with a searchable list of the bodies it recognises. There were 101 at the time.

1. Find the halal logo on the pack and the name of the certifying body beside it.
2. Check that body against MUIS’s list of recognised foreign certifiers at fhcb.muis.gov.sg.
3. If the certifier is recognised, its assessment has been accepted for import into Singapore. If it is not on the list, MUIS has not assessed it, and you may want to choose a product whose certifier you can verify.

What about food prepared in the supermarket?

MUIS certifies products and premises separately. A sealed, certified product carries its own certification wherever it is sold. Food that is cooked, cut or packed in the store, such as ready meals, a roast-chicken counter or a bakery, is covered only if that counter or kitchen is itself certified, in which case the certificate should be displayed there.

Mainstream supermarkets in Singapore also sell pork and other non-halal products, generally in separate sections. How an individual shopper weighs buying from a store that sells both is a personal and religious judgement; this page does not make it for you, and MUIS is the authority to ask.

Signs that are not certification

• “No pork, no lard” describes ingredients. It is not halal certification.
• “Muslim-owned” describes the owner. It is not certification either, though many Muslim-owned businesses are also certified.
• An unfamiliar logo may be genuine but from a certifier MUIS has not recognised. Check the list.

Shopping for Hari Raya and other occasions

Festive demand brings special ranges and imported goods into the aisles, which is exactly when unfamiliar labels multiply. Check new products the same way: the MUIS mark for local products, a recognised certifier for imports, and a displayed certificate for anything prepared in store. When cooking for Muslim guests, it is also worth checking the smaller ingredients, such as stock cubes, sauces, gelatine-containing desserts and flavourings, which are easy to overlook.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues halal certification in Singapore?

MUIS, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, certifies locally made products and food premises. Imported products are certified by foreign bodies that MUIS recognises.

Is an imported product with a halal logo accepted in Singapore?

It depends on the certifier. MUIS recognises specific foreign halal certification bodies and publishes the list at fhcb.muis.gov.sg. A logo from a recognised body has been accepted for products imported into Singapore.

Does MUIS certify products made overseas?

No. MUIS does not certify food manufactured overseas; it relies on the foreign certification bodies it recognises.

Is food from a supermarket’s hot-food counter halal?

Only if that counter or kitchen is itself certified by MUIS, in which case the certificate should be displayed. Check before buying.

Is “no pork, no lard” the same as halal?

No. It describes ingredients, not certification. Look for the MUIS mark or a displayed MUIS certificate.

Read next

This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with what supermarket date labels really mean and every supermarket chain in Singapore, explained.

Sources checked 28 September 2026: MUIS, Foreign Halal Certification Body recognition portal; MUIS announcements on digital halal certificates and the foreign certifier portal (September 2025), as reported. This page describes the certification system; it does not give religious rulings. Last updated 28 September 2026.