Malaysia Approves Cultivated Meat as Halal; Shia Scholars Outline Specific Jurisprudential Criteria

Malaysia Approves Cultivated Meat as Halal; Shia Scholars Outline Specific Jurisprudential Criteria
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Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) has issued a landmark ruling declaring cultivated (lab-grown) meat permissible under Islamic law, making it the first Muslim-majority country to formalize such guidance, as reported by www.foodbev.com.

The National Muzakarah Committee ruled that cultivated meat is halal if the source cells come from animals slaughtered according to Sharia and all growth media and biological components are halal, excluding substances such as blood serum or other haram ingredients. The decision follows Malaysia’s National Cultivated Meat Feasibility Study and aligns with rulings from Singapore, the Korean Muslim Federation, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA).

The Good Food Institute APAC contributed technical data showing that 87 percent of producers prioritize halal compliance. Officials highlighted the ruling’s significance for start-ups, scientists, and regulators, promoting sustainable protein production across Asia.

From a Shia jurisprudential perspective, cultivated meat can only be considered halal if strict criteria are met: Firstly, Cells must come from permissible animals slaughtered according to Sharia; cells taken from living animals are generally considered maytah (carrion) and thus haram.

Secondly, the culture medium must avoid impure (najis) substances like fetal bovine serum; plant-based or halal-certified alternatives are acceptable.