International Halal Certification Standard for COVID-19 Vaccines Expected Soon (Malaysia HDC)

International Halal certification standard for COVID-19 vaccines expected early next year

Recently, Malaysia''s Halal Development Corporation (HDC) said that Halal vaccines, or vaccines permitted for Halal-observing people, are expected to be launched as early as next year (2021), including certification standards for vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to local daily Berita Harian, HDC CEO Hairol Ariffein Sahari said Malaysia is expected to become the world''s first country to propose a Halal standard that global vaccine manufacturers can use. He also noted that this first requires establishing a Halal standard for biological products, in order to pave the way for Halal-certified vaccines. He pointed out that there are currently Halal standards for the pharmaceutical industry, but not for biological products.

Therefore, HDC is working with the Department of Standards Malaysia and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia to develop a framework for a Halal standard for biological products. Speaking at the 12th World Halal Conference, Hairol Ariffein Sahari said, "The development of this standard is nearly 70% complete and is expected to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2021. Once the standard is developed, we can prepare a certification scheme and mark so the industry can apply to use a Halal certificate in vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccine."

Hairol Ariffein Sahari.

Berita Harian also reported that HDC is collaborating with companies to develop and produce vaccines meeting Halal certification standards. In addition, in the local Straits Times, HDC chairman Datuk Mahmud Abbas said COVID-19 has brought both challenges and opportunities to the Halal industry: "For Malaysia, as the custodian of MS2424 the general guidelines for Halal pharmaceuticals, the world''s first such standard, we have a responsibility to act swiftly to meet the demand for Halal-certified vaccines."

At present, China''s vaccine R&D is at the leading level nationally. Coincidentally, several domestic biological research institutes have also raised demand for vaccine Halal certification. In following up on vaccine certification, our certifiers found that because of certain components of the vaccine itself, such as serum, which touch the sensitive points of Halal certification, the certification process is more difficult than ordinary food certification. At the same time, out of safety protection for their independent R&D, China''s biological research institutes also have concerns when foreign auditors request on-site audits. However, in order to end the still-spreading COVID-19 pandemic at an early date, the development and market launch of vaccines and the landing of their Halal certification in China are surely imperative!

On October 8, China signed an agreement with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and formally joined the "COVID-19 Vaccines Implementation Plan" (COVAX). Once a vaccine is successfully developed and formally put into use, China will provide the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good to developing countries on a priority basis, contributing to the fair distribution of future vaccines and the safety and health of all humanity!

As the first organization in China to obtain direct authorization for international Halal certification, SINOQUAL has, since 2006, helped many well-known domestic enterprises successfully obtain Halal certification certificates and become their satisfied long-term partner. On the future road of domestic COVID-19 vaccines obtaining Halal qualifications and opening up the "Belt and Road", we are willing to stand side by side with you and contribute our part!