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Malaysia’s Islamic authority has issued a landmark ruling allowing cultivated meat to be considered halal, marking a first for a Muslim-majority country.

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, JAKIM), through its National Muzakarah Committee, released a fatwa stating that cultivated meat is permissible under Islamic law if certain conditions are met.

These include sourcing cells from animals slaughtered according to Shariah and ensuring that all growth media and biological components come from halal sources, avoiding substances such as blood serum or other haram ingredients.

The announcement follows Malaysia’s recently completed National Cultivated Meat Feasibility Study, part of a broader government initiative, supported by the prime minister, to explore 'the potential of future foods'.

The ruling aligns with similar decisions by Singapore’s Islamic council, the Korean Muslim Federation, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), signalling growing regional consensus on the permissibility of cultivated meat.

The Good Food Institute (GFI) APAC contributed to the deliberations by providing technical presentations on the science of cultivated meat and sharing industry survey data showing that 87 percent of producers prioritise compliance with halal standards.

Mirte Gosker, CEO of The Good Food Institute APAC, said: “As one of the world’s largest halal markets and an influential voice in multilateral standard-setting, Malaysia’s fatwa will have far-reaching implications and signals an emerging global consensus on the permissibility of cultivated meat".

"By providing clear guidance for start-ups, scientists and regulators, this ruling sets the stage for greater collaboration between Malaysia, Singapore and other forward-looking countries as we build a more secure and sustainable protein supply for Asia and beyond.”