Halal Cosmetics

A common misconception about Halal products up until now is that it is only related to foodstuffs. However, Muslim consumers are now increasingly aware that some cosmetics contain ingredients derived from animal origins, and are thus concerned about the halal status of these products. Apart from the raw materials used, the quality control processes, equipment, building and personnel involved in the preparation of the product also affect the quality and halal status of cosmetics and personal care products. In line with numerous consumer groups worldwide pushing for safe and healthy cosmetics, there is also growing momentum in the halal industry to demand manufacturers of cosmetics to meet its requirements.

The standard for halal cosmetics entitled Islamic Consumer Goods – Part 1: Cosmetic and Personal Care – General Guidelines, is now at the drafting stage. The draft standard was developed by The Technical Committee on Halal Food and Islamic Consumer Goods chaired by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, or JAKIM). The standard is part of the government’s efforts to make Malaysia the region’s hub for halal products, and will be the first standard established in a series of Halal Standards for Islamic Consumer Goods.

In order to meet the overall requirements of Halal Cosmetics and personal care products, an organization must also comply with the relevant requirements in MS 1500 – Halal Food – Production, Preparation, Handling and Storage – General Guidelines. The standard is similar to MS 1500:2004 in that it is based on the same principles, that is ingredients must conform to halal and shariah requirements and use of swine or non halal ingredients is not allowed. All stages of manufacturing, from production to packaging and delivery must be Halal compliant.

Requirements covered by the Halal Cosmetic and Personal care standard include:

• Sources of halal cosmetics and personal care products
• Cleanliness in the preparation and handling of materials or cosmetic products
• Other aspects in preparation of materials for cosmetics and personal care
• Devices, utensils, machines and processing aids
• Packaging and labelling

Medical Devices (MS 13485: 2006)

Medical devices are important part of patient care and are one of the fastest growing industries in the world. These devices help practitioners perform numerous tasks in caring for patients, ranging from diagnosis, prevention, to monitoring and treatment of diseases. However most countries, in particular developing countries, lack high quality devices and equipment, and have little regulatory controls in place to prevent the import of defective or ineffective medical devices. Medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to consistently produce devices that are efficient and safe, but some manufacturers have resorted to unethical practices in order to cut costs. For instance, there are concerns about the sale and use of reprocessed and repackaged single use devices, which can put the lives of patients in danger. A lack of records of devices being sold and used further compounds the problem, and hampers any government efforts to recall any unsafe devices.

In light of this, the MS ISO 13485:2006 is Malaysia’s first step towards cost effective management of medical devices that maintain international quality standards throughout their lifespan, and the standards provide a framework for the country to plan and improve their medical devices regulatory systems. The aim of the medical device regulation is to protect public safety and health, allow patients to early access to new technology for early detection, diagnosis and treatment and facilitate and enhance trade in the medical devices industry.

MS ISO 13485:2006 is aligned to ISO 13485:2003, and is part of the Malaysian government’s policy to address a host of issues related to medical devices, starting from access to high quality yet affordable devices, to their safe use and disposal. MS ISO 13485: 2006 is a process standard that describes quality management system for medical devices usable for regulatory purposes. It applies to organizations that design, develop, produce, install and service medical devices or provide related services. These medical devices include active, non- active, implantable, and non-implantable devices and in vitro diagnostic devices.

Organizations that are certified to MS ISO 13485 will have established a globally recognized quality management system that facilitates the design, development, production and installation of medical devices and have demonstrated the ability to meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements.

Malaysia is taking steps towards the harmonization of its medical devices regulation at regional and international levels. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Consultative Committee for standards and quality medical devices product working group (ACCSQ-MPPWG) is working towards a harmonized ASEAN Regulatory Requirement for medical devices.

International Halal Integrity (IHI) Alliance

The halal industry is estimated to be worth billions of dollars, and demand is growing worldwide. However the industry’s growth is severely hampered due to a lack of an international halal standard. Differences in halal standards between countries have lead to much misunderstanding and disagreements during the halal certification process.

Each country establishes their own certification body and set differing standards with regards to slaughtering methods, animal feeds, packaging and other related issues. To add to the confusion, there even exist various halal authorities within some countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, there are at least 20 halal certification bodies in operation, each with their own rulings.  With so many different standards coming from differing authorities, producers are often at a lost on where to start to get their products certified for the right market.

The International Halal Integrity (IHI) Alliance was formed in 2007, after a resolution that was passed in 2006 at the World Halal Forum, to answer the call for harmonizing halal standards. It is a non-profit, international, private sector business association that serves as a platform for its members to share information with governments, organizations and business communities worldwide and work towards strengthening the halal industry and helping it fulfill it’s potential. The Malaysian government has thrown its support behind IHI Alliance, having pledged some RM 15 million worth of funding towards it over the next three years.

IHI Alliance also aims to ensure integrity of the Halal Industry’s supply chain and assist Muslim and non-Muslim countries in implementing harmonized halal standards and assessment systems. As part of its program, the association plans to promote and create awareness about the halal industry by providing relevant information and training. It also intends to use research and development as a tool to provide innovative solutions for any new issues by developing a knowledge base that is supported by scientific validation and setting up and R&D infrastructure.

The association seeks to foster the development of globally accepted halal standards and certification systems by setting guidelines and best practice methods.  With a set of uniform and harmonized halal standards and certification systems to refer to, consumers and retailers would be confident of getting the right quality in products, thereby increasing global trade. Worldwide accepted halal standards will also eliminate the need for multiple certifications which will help speed up product development and shorten the cycle time of the supply chain.

References:
1.    http://www.ihialliance.org/
2.    http://www.halaljournal.com/?page=article&act=show&pid=1573&PHPSESSID=df4529af5e43a592cb5c016d8beade73
3.    http://www.halaljournal.com/artman/publish_php/article_1061.php
4.    http://www.halaljournal.com/?page=article&act=show&pid=1573&PHPSESSID=df4529af5e43a592cb5c016d8beade73
5.    http://www.sirim.my/f_corp/services.pdf