The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia has ruled that cultivated meat can be halal if it meets certain basic conditions, the first such declaration by a Muslim-majority country.
Malaysia’s Islamic authority has issued a landmark fatwa stating that cultivated meat products can be considered halal and consumed by Muslims.
The ruling came from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), marking the first time a Muslim-majority nation has deemed cultivated meat to be halal if it meets some basic conditions.
A fatwa is a non-binding legal opinion based on Sharia law, and is an important guideline for Muslims on matters not specifically defined in the Quran.
Malaysia’s guidance follows similar rulings in Singapore and South Korea over the last couple of years, adding to a growing consensus that these proteins can be eaten by the world’s two billion Muslims.
“As one of the world’s largest halal markets and an influential voice in multilateral standard-setting, Malaysia’s fatwa will have far-reaching implications and signals an emerging global consensus on the permissibility of cultivated meat,” said Mirte Gosker, CEO of alternative protein think tank the Good Food Institute APAC.
What halal conditions does cultivated meat need to meet?
Halal diets refer to food consumption in accordance with Islamic law. When it comes to meat, this means animals must be slaughtered in a prescribed way, and certain types of meat and byproducts – including pork and blood products – are prohibited. Globally, the halal meat market is estimated to grow by 7% annually to reach $1.6T by 2032.
JAKIM’s decision came through the National Muzakarah Committee, following a meeting in September where its council discussed the law on eating cultivated meat.
It stated that for cultivated meat to be halal, the source cells must come from animals slaughtered with halal practices, and the culture medium must be from halal sources.
JAKIM’s council added that the cells must come from halal animals (which exclude pigs) that aren’t slaughtered, meaning that cultivated meat produced using fetal bovine serum can’t be considered halal.
It explained that biological components that support cell growth and differentiation must also come from halal sources, including growth factors, growth hormones, enzymes, and gelatin.
GFI APAC said it played a supporting role in the deliberative process, providing technical presentations to regional authorities about the science behind cell-cultured meat, most recently at the Halal International Seminar in September.
This declaration comes months after Malaysia completed an expansive feasibility study on cultivated meat, as part of the government’s effort to explore “the potential of future foods.”
Growing support for cultivated meat among Islamic authorities
This is the fourth religious ruling in favour of Muslims’ consumption of cultivated meat. In 2024, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore issued a fatwa recognising these proteins as halal, a decision replicated by the Korean Muslim Federation earlier this year.
And in June, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy – one of the world’s leading legal authorities on Islam – ruled that Muslims can eat cultivated meat under similar criteria.
These were followed by similar conclusions by three leading Shariah scholars in Saudi Arabia in 2023, who told cultivated chicken maker Good Meat that cultivated meat can be considered halal, and the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America in 2022, who adjudged it as provisionally permissible by default, provided Halal criteria are followed.
Cultivated meat producers understand the opportunity. A 44-company survey in 2023 revealed that complying with halal requirements was a priority for 87% of the firms. The study, led by GFI APAC, added that a lack of resources outlining how products can adhere to such religious certifications remained a significant entry barrier.
“By providing clear guidance for startups, scientists, and regulators, this ruling sets the stage for greater collaboration between Malaysia, Singapore, and other forward-looking countries as we build a more secure and sustainable protein supply for Asia and beyond,” said Gosker.
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