National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT)
National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) is a halal certification body in South Africa 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 | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Address | Baitun Noor Centre 5770 Cnr Topaas & Turkoois Streets Extension 5, Lenasia 1827 Johannesburg Republic of South Africa |
| Contact person | Maulana Abdul Wahab Wookay (Chief Executive Officer) |
| Telephone | +27 11 854 4381 |
| Fax | +27 11 852 4300 |
| niht@halaal.org.za, abdulwahab@halaal.org.za | |
| Recognition | JAKIM (gazetted, as at 30 January 2026) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Certifies | meat and poultry processing, abattoirs and slaughter, food and beverages, dairy, bakeries, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, restaurants and food outlets, vegan products |
| Standards | MS 1500:2019, GSO 2055-2:2021, GSO 993, SNI 99004:2021 |
| Accredited by | Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), United Arab Emirates, Halal Accreditation Council (HAC), Sri Lanka |
| Also recognised by | MOIAT (United Arab Emirates), Ministry of Public Health (Qatar), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (Saudi Arabia), SASO (Saudi Arabia), Muslim Professional Japan Association (Japan), MUIS (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) |
| Memberships | World Halaal Food Council |
| Website | halaal.org.za |
Dual recognition: NIHT is also listed on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list, valid to 2029-01-29.
About NIHT
The National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) is a South African halal certification body established in 1992, and it states that it has represented a broad spectrum of Ulama, professionals, and consumers since 2000. The trust operates from three regional offices in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, and lists 18 affiliated organisations including Ulama councils, Islamic institutes, and butchers associations across the country.
NIHT reports certifying more than 600 establishments nationwide across more than 30 categories, from meat processing plants and poultry abattoirs to bakeries, beverages, dairy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, restaurants, and vegan product lines. Around 145 personnel supervise certified facilities that are not Muslim owned, supported by a full time team of Halaal auditors and a national database of certified products. The organisation says its executive staff serve on a voluntary basis to preserve transparency, and it emphasises animal welfare, sustainability, and fairness alongside Shariah compliance.
Its accreditation page names the Emirates International Accreditation Centre and Sri Lanka’s Halal Accreditation Council among its accreditors, with recognitions listed from MUIS in Singapore, MOIAT in the UAE, Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and SASO in Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim Professional Japan Association. NIHT implements named standards including Malaysia’s MS 1500:2019, the Gulf GSO 2055-2:2021 and GSO 993, and Indonesia’s SNI 99004:2021, and it is a member of the World Halaal Food Council. This combination gives certificate holders coverage across the major regulated halal import markets in Southeast Asia and the Gulf.
Frequently asked questions
Is NIHT recognised by JAKIM?
Yes. National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) 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 NIHT?
JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) is widely regarded as the industry's most influential halal authority. Its recognition means halal certificates issued by NIHT are accepted for products entering Malaysia, and it serves as a strong third-party credibility signal in the global halal trade.
Where is NIHT based?
National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) is based in South Africa at Baitun Noor Centre 5770 Cnr Topaas & Turkoois Streets Extension 5, Lenasia 1827 Johannesburg Republic of South Africa.
Is NIHT recognised outside Malaysia?
Yes. Besides JAKIM, National Independent Halaal Trust (NIHT) appears on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list (valid to 2029-01-29), so its halal certificates are also accepted for the Singapore market. Recognition by two national authorities is a strong dual-market credibility signal for exporters.
How large is NIHT's certification operation in South Africa?
NIHT reports certifying more than 600 establishments nationwide, with around 145 personnel supervising certified facilities and a full time team of Halaal auditors working countrywide from offices in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.
Which Gulf market approvals does NIHT hold?
NIHT lists accreditation by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre and approvals tied to MOIAT in the UAE, Qatar's Ministry of Public Health, and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and SASO in Saudi Arabia, applying Gulf standards such as GSO 2055-2:2021.
Who oversees NIHT's religious rulings?
NIHT is structured as a trust representing a broad spectrum of Ulama, professionals, and consumers, with 18 affiliated organisations including Ulama councils, Islamic institutes, and butchers associations across South Africa.
Related halal certification bodies
- South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) · South Africa
- Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust (MJCHT) · South Africa
- Islamic Centre of the Argentine Republic (Centro Islamico de la Republica Argentina) · Argentina
- The Halal Catering Argentina (THCA) · Argentina
Sectors NIHT certifies
NIHT's recognised scope covers these sectors. Compare every JAKIM-recognised body certifying the same category: