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Product claim: Halal

Information on when the claim 'Halal' can be used and on Halal certification

What are halal cosmetic products?

Halal cosmetic products are those that do not contain ingredients derived from pig, carrion, blood, human body parts, predatory animals, reptiles, and insects, among others. In order to be considered halal, cosmetic ingredients derived from permissible animals must be slaughtered according to Islamic law.

During the preparation, processing, manufacture, storage, and transport of halal cosmetic products, it is essential to maintain hygiene and pure conditions at all times. The focus is on ensuring the absence of filth. Certifying products as halal aligns with the goals of most quality assurance procedures, such as cGMP.

The development of halal cosmetics poses various challenges, ranging from sourcing the right ingredients to the manufacturing process.

Halal ingredients

Halal cosmetic ingredients are any components that come from plants, soil, water, permissible animals slaughtered according to Islamic law, marine animals deemed halal, and synthetic materials that are safe for consumers and free from impurities.

It can be challenging to verify if cosmetic ingredients derived from animals such as gelatin, lecithin, glycerol, fatty acids, and collagen are halal. Some coloring agents may be derived from insects, making them haram. Another challenge arises with ingredients of bovine origin, as the animals may not be slaughtered in a halal manner. In addition to using halal ingredients, it is also important for cosmetic products to meet the requirements of Islamic rituals. For example, a lacquered nail must be able to be rinsed with water, and cosmetic products applied to the skin should be water-permeable or easily rinsed off to accommodate Muslims in their rituals.

Certain ingredients are considered haram and are not permissible to be used in halal cosmetics. Alcohol, for example, is a common ingredient found in perfumes, makeup, and cosmetics. It is known for its preservative properties as well as its ability to dissolve, degrease, and act as an astringent. However, due to its contradiction with Islamic law, any formulation containing alcohol cannot be considered halal.

It is important for manufacturers to obtain halal certification for each ingredient from their suppliers as a standard practice. This ensures that all the ingredients used in the production of halal cosmetics have been verified and meet the necessary requirements.

Manufacturing process

The production of halal cosmetics involves more than just sourcing halal ingredients. It also requires the implementation of a halal assurance system throughout the production process. In addition to following cosmetic manufacturing requirements like GMP and ISO, manufacturers must develop and adapt a halal assurance system to obtain halal certification for their cosmetic products. The main objective of this system is to maintain halal production processes and ensure compliance with the regulations of halal governing bodies such as LPPOM-MUI and JAKIM.
This assurance system must be applied to all aspects of cosmetic production, with proper documentation to trace each process. Manufacturers should create an in-house manual for the halal assurance system, covering components such as halal policy, guidelines, management organization, standard operating procedures, technical references, administration system, documentation system, stakeholder engagement, training programs, audit system, corrective action system, and management review system.

Halal certification

To ensure that a product is genuinely Halal, it is advisable to look for certification from recognized Halal authorities or organizations. These certifications guarantee that the product complies with Halal standards.

There are various guiding documents available that outline the requirements for certifying halal cosmetics. Manufacturers are required to adhere to these standards, in addition to the ones mentioned earlier in this article. These documents provide general guidelines for the production and manufacturing of cosmetics. However, they may not provide comprehensive information on sourcing ingredients for halal cosmetics or testing the performance of these products to support Muslim rituals.

  • The ARGML (Ritual Association of the Great Mosque of Lyon), is one of the leading certification bodies in France. The ARGML has developed a halal cosmetic certification for body hygiene, hair products and make-up.
  • Halal Certification Services (HCS) is a halal certification body based in Switzerland. Founded in 1987, this organisation is now renowned and recognised in several countries. It offers a certification system dedicated to cosmetic products, and works with major multinational brands such as Maggi or Merck.
  • The Moroccan Institute of Standardisation (IMANOR) is a public institution that offers a halal label to companies complying with the Moroccan standard NM 08.0.802 relating to the Islamic rules on HALAL cosmetic products.
  • The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, known as JAKIM, has developed the Foreign Halal Certification Body (FHCB). Very popular in Asia, this certification ensures that cosmetic and skincare products comply with the principles established by the Department of Islamic Development in Malaysia

 

Reference

Sugibayashi, Kenji & Yusuf, Eddy & Todo, Hiroaki & Dahlizar, Sabrina & Sakdiset, Pajaree & Arce, Florencio Jr & See, Gerard Lee. (2019). Halal Cosmetics: A Review on Ingredients, Production, and Testing Methods. Cosmetics. 6. 37. 10.3390/cosmetics6030037.