Red meat sector welcomes upgraded Halal arrangement with Malaysia
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) says Halal processing is a cornerstone of the New Zealand meat industry’s business model.
“New Zealand has been exporting halal-certified meat for nearly 50 years. Halal processing allows our industry to export red meat to Muslim countries and consumers around the world and find the best market for each part of the carcass.
“While there are still steps to formalise the arrangement, it has the potential to bring significant opportunities for our red meat exports in a market of 35 million people. Arrangements such as this foster mutual understanding of each other’s regulatory systems and deepening relationships.
“We are grateful to the New Zealand Government and officials in both countries for their ongoing commitment to smoothing the pathway for New Zealand Halal certified red meat products. It strengthens our long-standing relationship with Malaysia and will help unlock new opportunities for exporting New Zealand’s world-class halal meat.
In 2024, New Zealand exported Halal certified products to 63 countries worldwide, accounting for approximately NZ$2.9 billion of export revenue. Halal-certified exports from New Zealand to Malaysia were worth $65 million—increasing to $79 million in the year ending 30 September 2025, she says.
“While Malaysia is currently a relatively small market for halal-certified meat, it is a very important one for the New Zealand meat industry as Malaysia is a global halal standards setter.”
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