SINOQUAL Helps Enterprises Enter the Global Halal Cosmetics Market (UAE Standard)

SINOQUAL helps enterprises enter the growing global Halal cosmetics market

Global consumer demand for Halal cosmetics is continuously rising. Centered on the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and African markets, Halal cosmetics attract not only the Halal community but also those who consider Halal cosmetics beneficial to health. Many regard "Halal" as a term comparable to "Vegan" or "Organic", because these terms guarantee that products are healthy and safe and manufactured according to high and specific quality standards.

It is predicted that the global Halal cosmetics market will grow from about USD 16.32 billion in 2015 to at least USD 538.1 billion in 2025. Therefore, SINOQUAL is helping practitioners in the cosmetics industry understand the definition of Halal cosmetics and assisting them in how to obtain Halal certification and successfully navigate this lucrative market.

To be classified as "Halal", a cosmetic or personal-care product must meet the general requirements in UAE Article 2.2, S2055-1:2015 General Requirements for Halal Food. This defines what is Halal and what is forbidden (Haram). Forbidden ingredients include:

Human body parts

Animals forbidden for Halal consumers to eat, such as pork

Animals not slaughtered according to Halal standards

Najis (filth), such as liquids and objects discharged from the human or animal body, such as urine, blood, vomit, etc.

Harmful food

Alcoholic beverages and narcotics

These rules apply not only to the final product but also to processes related to preparation, manufacturing, and storage and transport. This includes cleaning products, lubricants, and any process or step in Halal cosmetics production. The production separation of Halal products and non-Halal products is also important, and likewise, according to ISO 22716:2009, the factory must comply with good manufacturing practice.

In addition to the above requirements, Halal cosmetics must also avoid using:

Ingredients listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Genetically modified organisms and genetically modified substances containing human genes or forbidden animal genes

Agricultural-product ingredients that do not conform to Halal regulations

Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and yeast that are toxic to health, produced in a non-Halal environment, or containing non-Halal ingredients

This overlap in demand between the Halal and non-Halal markets inevitably leads companies to standardize production to reduce costs and increase output.

At the same time, for product names and appearance, Halal certification also has its own requirements and guidelines.

Halal-certified product names must meet the following requirements:

Must not use names of alcoholic beverages, such as root beer, rum-raisin-flavored ice cream, or 0% alcohol beer.

Must not use pork and dog and their derivative products, such as roast pork, beef bacon, and hot dog.

Must not use devil-related names such as devil noodles or devil ice.

Must not mention anything leading to kafir or apostasy, such as Valentine''s Day chocolate or Christmas cookies.

Must not use any words with pornographic, vulgar, or erotic connotations.

May use product names that are widely known and contain no Haram (non-Halal) materials, such as beer pletok, bakso, bakmi, bakpia, and bakpao.

The sensory characteristics/appearance of the product should not have a smell or taste tending toward Haram products. For example, any beverage with the smell or taste of beer, even if made from Halal materials, cannot be certified.

The appearance of Halal-certified products must meet the following requirements:

Must not use the shape of a pig or dog.

Must not use product, packaging, or label shapes representing pornographic, vulgar, or erotic characteristics.

In particular, for food and beverage products, the ethanol content in the product must not exceed 0.5%. For any other product, the ethanol content in the product is not limited to a certain ratio, as long as it does not endanger health.

Manufacturers find that, compared with obtaining "Vegan", "Organic", and "Cruelty-free" cosmetics-manufacturer certifications, obtaining Halal certification is easier. The Halal certification process includes a document review and an on-site audit by technical experts. The assessment results are reviewed by an impartiality committee to decide whether a Halal certificate can be issued.