Islamic Association of Katanning (IAK)
Islamic Association of Katanning (IAK) is a halal certification body in Australia that holds recognition from JAKIM, Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development and the most influential authority in the global halal industry.
Source: JAKIM's official recognition list, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 270 Katanning B317 Western Australia Australia |
| Contact person | Mr. Alep Mydie (President) |
| Telephone | +61 8 9821 2775 |
| Mobile | +61 4 8718 2144 |
| alepmydie@yahoo.com | |
| Recognition | JAKIM (gazetted, as at 30 January 2026) |
| Memberships | Islamic Council of Western Australia (member organisation) |
About IAK
The Islamic Association of Katanning (IAK) is a community based Islamic organisation in Katanning, a town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Katanning hosts an export lamb processing plant operated by WAMMCO International, and its Muslim community is one of the longest established in regional Australia. The association’s president, Alep Mydie, is listed as its contact in JAKIM’s register of recognised certification bodies, where the association appears without a website.
IAK’s roots lie in a migration that began in the early 1970s, when Malay Muslim families from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island moved to Katanning to work at the town’s export meatworks. Men were employed in slaughter work, including halal slaughter, while women worked on the boning tables. The plant has traded under successive owners, from Southern Meat Packers to Metro Meat International and now WAMMCO International, and the employer accommodated Islamic practice by exchanging some Australian public holidays for Idul Fitri and shortening Fridays for prayer.
The community built the Katanning Mosque in 1980, and it was opened in 1981 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia. IAK is a member organisation of the Islamic Council of Western Australia and appears in the Global Halal Network directory under the code IAKI. The association operates from a post office box in Katanning.
Sources
- Islamic Council of Western Australia member organisations page
- Lost Katanning Malay community history
- Katanning Mosque on Wikipedia
- AussieMuslims.NET directory entry for Katanning Mosque and Islamic Association
- Global Halal Network listing for Islamic Association of Katanning
Verified 2026-07-05
Frequently asked questions
Is IAK recognised by JAKIM?
Yes. Islamic Association of Katanning (IAK) appears on JAKIM's official recognition list of international halal certification bodies, gazetted under Malaysia's Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
What does JAKIM recognition mean for IAK?
JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) is widely regarded as the industry's most influential halal authority. Its recognition means halal certificates issued by IAK are accepted for products entering Malaysia, and it serves as a strong third-party credibility signal in the global halal trade.
Where is IAK based?
Islamic Association of Katanning (IAK) is based in Australia at P.O. Box 270 Katanning B317 Western Australia Australia.
How is the Islamic Association of Katanning connected to Australia's meat export industry?
Katanning's Muslim community formed around the town's export meatworks. Malay families from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island moved to Katanning in the 1970s to work at the plant, with men employed in slaughter work including halal slaughter. The facility has traded under successive owners, from Southern Meat Packers to Metro Meat International and now WAMMCO International.
Is the Islamic Association of Katanning part of a wider Islamic body?
Yes. The association is listed among the member organisations of the Islamic Council of Western Australia, which brings together Islamic societies and mosques across the state.
What is the significance of the Katanning Mosque to the association's community?
The local Islamic community built the Katanning Mosque in 1980, and it was opened in 1981 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia. The mosque serves a community whose founding members arrived from Christmas Island in 1974, later joined by relatives from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Related halal certification bodies
- Australian Halal Authority & Advisers (AHAA) Pty. Ltd. · Australia
- Perth Mosque Incorporated (PMI) · Australia
- Supreme Islamic Council of Meat in Australia (SICHMA) · Australia
- Halal Certification Authority Australia (HCAA) · Australia