This is a linkpost for https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gfi-apac_breaking-malaysias-islamic-authority-declares-activity-7404336568339116033-SWdN/
Malaysia’s Islamic authority declares cultivated meat can be halal - a first for a Muslim-majority country
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia – JAKIM), through the National Muzakarah Committee, has issued a landmark religious ruling (fatwa) stating that cultivated meat can be halal if certain basic conditions are met. This declaration comes just months after Malaysia completed an expansive National Cultivated Meat Feasibility Study, as part of a government effort supported by the prime minister to explore “the potential of future foods.”
Source: GFI APAC, Based on Religious Ruling (Link Provided in Their Post)
I am surprised at this, only because I remember the Gulf states were quite keen on bringing production into their countries and I would’ve thought they’d have declared Halal sooner!
Could this apply to cultivated meat based on non-halal animals such as pigs?
Full fatwa here (Malay): https://ciri.islam.gov.my/view/fatwa_cetak.php?id=16914
Cultivated meat can be declared halal as long as the cell culture comes from a halal animal that has been slaughtered according to Islamic law, and as long as the media is halal (so not derived from blood or other haram substances)
Note: I do not speak Malay, nor am I Muslim, so further confirmation from someone who fits either of those demographics would be beneficial
My Malay is pretty rusty and I don't have a good sense Malaysia's Syariah laws, but your interpretation looks right to me.
Happy to be corrected.
So you don't think that cultivated pork would qualify because the cell culture would not come from a halal animal?
Yes.
If the source of the cell is from an animal that is haram (i.e. non-halal), then it cannot be considered halal.