Halal Cosmetic
The rising demand for halal products and services due to the global expansion of Islam has prompted an increasing number of companies to explore halal cosmetic. “Halal” means “permitted” in Arabic and applies not only to food but also to beauty and personal care products. Halal certification ensures that products comply with the principles of Islamic Sharia law and are therefore safe for consumption by Muslims.
Halal vs. haram
Most people are familiar with the term ‘halal’ from the food industry. For Muslims, the concept of halal must also be applied to other areas of life, including beauty and personal care products. Halal or the full term “Halalantoyyiban” means “permissible” in Arabic. It is important that Muslims only consume what is compatible with Islamic Sharia law. This is because it is a commandment of God in Islam that a Muslim should only consume what is clean and healthy for them and has no harmful effects. Ingredients such as pork and its derivatives, khamr or alcohol, blood, carnivorous animals and materials derived from animals that are not halal are considered ‘haram’ or not to be consumed.
Halal cosmetic
According to a 2017 report by Grand View Research, the global halal market was estimated at US$16.32 billion or €15.14 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow to US$52 billion by 2025. As a result, more and more cosmetics companies around the world are looking to introduce their products to the Muslim market.
Many companies are now voluntarily seeking halal cosmetics. Not only to expand their customer base, but also to reassure consumers in general that their products are safe to use, hygienic and of high quality.
As there are no official government bodies regulating halal cosmetics in Western countries, there are many private halal certification bodies. However, it can be confusing for manufacturers to know which private body to apply to for halal certification. Manufacturers should therefore ensure that halal cosmetic bodies are accredited by well-known Islamic councils in countries with large Muslim populations, such as MUI Indonesia, JAKIM Malaysia, MUIS Singapore and CICOT Thailand.
Certification process for Halal cosmetic products:
A typical halal certification process usually begins with an application from the company to the certifier, who then conducts a preliminary assessment to determine whether the product the company wishes to certify is halal. If so, the company must provide all the documentation required for the assessment process, including a list of all the product’s raw materials and suppliers, the additives and auxiliary materials used, lubricants, packaging materials and the detergent used to clean the machine.
In this case, it would be ideal if the company already used Halal-certified raw materials. It is therefore necessary to choose suppliers who are already familiar with Halal, so that there will be no difficulty in obtaining the certificate from them. It is also strongly recommended that the company does not use critical ingredients such as ethanol, animal gelatine or collagen and other animal ingredients to facilitate the certification process.
The next step is an on-site audit. This step is crucial for the certifier to verify the legitimacy of the documents submitted. During the audit, the certifier can also see for himself whether the manufacturer has a high quality production and whether a proper and thorough cleaning process is carried out. In particular, it is important to know if proper segregation is carried out. If non-halal ingredients or materials are present in the production facility or warehouse, it is imperative that cross-contamination is avoided through complete segregation to ensure the integrity of the halal product.
Clear traceability of products is essential for halal cosmetic, as Islamic Sharia law emphasizes the importance of knowing the exact origin of the product consumed.
Once the halal certifier has gained a full insight into the company and the manufacturing process, they can decide whether to issue the certificate. Depending on the criticality of the product, halal certification is usually valid for one year. After one year, the manufacturer must renew the certificate and go through the recertification process.
Halal cosmetics with Cosmacon!
With over 25 years of experience, we at Cosmacon GmbH recognize the significance of halal cosmetic. We offer a formulation service for halal compliant cosmetic products for companies wishing to extend their brands to the Muslim community. We can help you with halal cosmetics and certification by providing a comprehensive and professional review of all raw materials. Get in touch with us today!
Sources:
Trends and challenges in phytotherapy and phytocosmetics for skin aging.; Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 Aug;29(8):103363.
Awareness and intention to register halal certification of micro and small-scale food enterprises.; F1000Res. 2023 Mar 29;11:170.