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Hello!
This is Dr.M, OTC expert at OTCM.
In the previous issue, we explored why Halal certification in the cosmetics industry
has moved beyond being a mere trend and has become an essential requirem ent for
entering the global market.
While Halal certification may appear straightforward at a conceptual level, the
actual preparation process requires far more careful consideration than
expected—ranging from the definition of key terms to differences in certification
systems by country, as well as the interpretation of ingredients and manufacturing
processes.
Especially, cosmetics are evaluated not only as finished products, but also in terms
of ingredient sources, manufacturing environments, and documentation management
systems. Without a clear understanding from the early stages, companies often face
unnecessary revisions and repeated delays during the certification process.
In this newsletter, to help reduce such confusion, we have organized the key
practical points of cosmetic Halal certification in a FAQ format.
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01. Halal Certification FAQ Cases
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Q1. Haram vs. Non-Halal — what’s the difference?
Can a factory producing non-Halal products be halal certified?
What is Haram?
‘Haram’ is the opposite of ‘Halal’ and refers to anything that is explicitly
prohibited under Islamic law (Sharia).
Typical examples include pig-derived ingredients, blood, and intoxicating alcohol,
all of which are ineligible for Halal certification.
What is Non-halal?
Non-halal, on the other hand, refers to products that have not yet been certified or
whose compliance with halal requirements has not been objectively verified.
In other words, even if a product does not contain prohibited ingredients, it may
still be classified as non-halal if the ingredient sources, manufacturing, storage
and transportation controls, or documentation are not sufficiently verified.
For this reason, producing non-halal products in the same facility does not
automatically disqualify a factory from Halal certification.
What matters is not the existence of non-halal products, but the control and
management of potential cross-contamination with haram materials.
With proper process segregation, cleaning SOPs, production scheduling, and record
management, it is possible to obtain Halal certification even in a shared
manufacturing facility.
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Q2. Are animal-derived ingredients or alcohol always an issue?
Not all animal-derived ingredients or alcohol are considered haram.
Pig-derived ingredients—such as lard, gelatin, and collagen—are classified as haram
and are generally prohibited. However, ingredients such as milk, honey, and beeswax
are obtained through natural biological processes without slaughter and may be
recognized as halal, provided other requirements are met.
The same applies to alcohol.
In cosmetics, the acceptability of alcohol may vary depending on the purpose of use,
origin, manufacturing process, and residual presence, and is subject to
interpretation by each Halal certification body.
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Q3. Which Halal certification do we need?
Is one enough?
Halal certification is not automatically recognized worldwide through a single
certification.
Each country maintains its own list of recognized Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs)
and determines import approval accordingly.
For example, Malaysia operates a government-led Halal certification system centered
on JAKIM, while Indonesia follows a structure that combines religious rulings by MUI
with administrative oversight by BPJPH.
However, many countries operate cross-recognition systems, under which Halal
certifications issued by overseas certification bodies are partially or fully
recognized.
As of now, Indonesia recognizes approximately 30 overseas Halal certification bodies
for cosmetics, while Malaysia recognizes around 90 bodies for food and goods.
Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain separate Halal certifications for every
country. Instead, it is important to strategically select a certification body after
first confirming which certifications are recognized and to what extent in the
target markets.
Failing to conduct this review in advance may result in unnecessary re-certification
and additional costs.
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Q4. What does the Halal certification audit evaluate?
One of the most common misconceptions is viewing Halal certification as an
evaluation limited to the finished product.
In practice, Halal audits assess the entire supply chain, including ingredients,
manufacturing, storage, transportation, packaging materials, and documentation
management.
Areas that are often overlooked include cleaning records, inspection tools for
equipment, contact with non-halal products during transportation, the composition of
packaging materials, and management documentation for outsourced partners such as
logistics and packaging vendors.
Halal certification is also not a one-time process.
It has a defined validity period, and changes in ingredients, processes, or partner
companies may affect certification status.
In other words, the core of Halal certification lies in having a system that
continuously manages changes. For this reason, incorporating halal requirements from
the planning, formulation, and manufacturing stages, rather than reacting after
product development is complete, provides a far more stable and sustainable approach
in the long term.
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02. Halal Certification with OTCM
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In cosmetics, Halal certification is not simply a process of adding a certification
mark to a product.
Rather, it is a comprehensive evaluation of the entire manufacturing system and
quality management framework, from ingredient selection to post-certification change
control.
Especially in a global environment where regulatory systems and recognition scopes
vary by country, it is more important to design a structure that considers
post-certification change management and future market expansion, rather than
focusing solely on short-term certification approval.
Ultimately, the competitiveness of Halal certification is determined
not by how quickly it is obtained, but by how sustainably and broadly it can be
leveraged over time.
From this perspective, OTCM approaches Halal certification not as a one-off task,
but as an integral part of a global regulatory strategy.
From ingredient review and formulation design aligned with halal requirements, to
the establishment of manufacturing processes and documentation systems that comply
with country-specific regulations—and supported by extensive experience across
Halal, OTC, and conventional cosmetics—OTCM enables sustainable and scalable global
market entry, extending well beyond certification. approval.
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