Halal literally means "permissible" in Arabic and refers to goods, including food items and services that are permissible to be consumed or availed under Sharia law, whereas haram (lit. "unlawful") refers to goods that are forbidden to be consumed or availed. The Philippines despite being a Christian-majority country has a state-sanctioned program to facilitate halal certification of goods under the Halal Act of 2016.

This article may require copy editing for cohesion and style. (January 2024)

The Philippines is a Christian-majority country although there are state-led efforts to develop the halal certification process in the country, for numerous purposes such as international trade^[1] and as means to encourage more halal tourism by providing more dining options for Muslim tourists.^[2] As of 2018, the Philippines only contributes 5 percent to the global halal industry trade according to its Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Philippine government is seeking to expand and develop the halal certification process in the country in order to develop its export industry with Muslim-majority countries.^[3] The government has also promoted halal-certified food items to non-Muslims since halal food items are free from alcohol, pork, and pork-derived products^[1][4]

There is national legislation which mandates the government to regulate halal certification of goods in the Philippines as well as the promotion of halal-certified goods for export, which is known as the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Program Act of 2016 (Republic Act 10817). The law took into effect on July 26, 2017 after its implementing rules and regulations was approved.^[3]

The law established the Halal Export Development and Promotion Board, an inter-agency body led by the Department of Trade and Industry along with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Departments of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (the country's central bank), and the Mindanao Development Authority, along with two Muslim Filipino professionals to facilitate its implementation.^[3]

Prior to the passage of the Halal Act of 2016, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is already mandated under Republic Act 9997 of 2010 to develop the halal industry as well as to accredit halal certifying bodies. The NCMF itself replaced the defunct Office on Muslim Affairs.^[5]

• Sharia in the Philippines