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@ Halal | September-october . 2020

BY NOR AMIN MOHD NOOR Chairman , Global Haltech

fastest-growing markets in the world . Several more manufacturers jumped into this sector as they can see the value .

But do the authorities and consumers see the value ?

That ’ s what needs to be understood by all parties to see the value and integrity behind halal status itself .

How do we see the value ? Halal science through halal analysis will solve it .

During early practices of halal science generally or halal analysis specifically , most halal players thought halal analysis was about tracing the haram source like porcine and alcohol in the ingredients or finished products .

However , if we study the definition behind the practice of halal analysis itself , it ’ s beyond what people think . Halal analysis by practice definition involves three disciplines which are Halalan , Toyyiban and Ethics .

HALALAN is focussed on the authenticity of the finished product from the angle of contamination or addition of any haram source from Syariah law perspective .

Meaning , how authentic is the product that it ’ s free of porcine and alcohol . Alcohol in this context is anything that contains alcoholic beverages like wine vinegar and so on .

The lab result is measured by qualitative measurement , which is any trace limit of porcine or alcohol would be considered as haram for Muslim to consume . There should be zero detection in the finished products .

Porcine

RESULT YES = HARAM NO = HALAL

HALAALAN

AUTHENTICITY Muslim only

Qualitative

Neal Creative ©

Alcoholic beverages

RESULT YES = HARAM NO = HALAL focus on SAFETY concerns

TOYYIBAN means cleanliness or hygiene . This analysis will focus on how safe are the products to be consumed by people . The lab result from this discipline would be measured by two categories which are either qualitative or quantitative measurement based on targetted content to be analysed .

The measurement falls under qualitative measure if the targetted content is purposely added for product improvement . For example , synthetic drugs should not be mixed with natural products , especially for men ’ s health products .

Steroids , banned substances or hazardous compounds are not allowed to be added to supplements and cosmetics products as the dosage may harm our body . If it is detected in labs , the product is deemed to have failed .

Quantitative measurement category is for the content which naturally occurred in the ingredients used for finished products . The targetted content in this category is allowed as long it ’ s not more than the limit which was regulated by the authority under the food act .

Ethanol is naturally fermented in fruitbased drinks . So the drinks are analysed to ensure the ethanol content is consistently not more than 1 per cent as drinks are considered halal as long as the ethanol content is not more than one per cent .

Else , it ’ s considered as haram even though the ingredients came from a halal source . Heavy metals such as lead , cadmium , mercury and arsenic naturally exist in the soil .

Plant-based products may contain all or some of them . But it ’ s still allowed to exist in the finished product as long as lab ’ s result shows not more than the limit stated under food act .

Same goes to microbial testing as the microbes are natural-growth in any food or finished products . As long the result shows it does not exceed the limits , then it is allowed .

Quantitative measurement category under safety discipline is imposed for health reasons as any exceeding limit may harm our body .

ETHICS discipline is proposed as part of the analysis . The ethics part here refers to the ethical practice by the manufacturer to ensure the finished product has value .

There has to be a difference between ethics discipline compared with halalan and toyyiban disciplines . Both qualitative and quantitative measurements are a must for this .

This is because ethical discipline is about the purity of the product from manufacturers , which means is the product ’ s validity as it is claimed .

Under the qualitative category , the targetted content , which is a specific marker

HALAL SCIENCE Neal THROUGH Creative | click & Learn more HALAL ANALYSIS

Adulteration

RESULT YES : Fail NO : Pass

Qualitative

Steroid / Banned substance / Hazardous compounds

RESULT YES : Fail NO : Pass

HALAL ANALYSIS

TOYYIBAN

SAFETY Muslim & Non-Muslim

Ethanol

RESULT Pass < 1.0 % < Fail

TIP │ Use the built-in color palette with green Quantitative

and yellow for callouts and accents

Heavy Metal

RESULT Cd : Pass < 0.3 ppm < Fail Hg : Pass < 0.5 ppm < Fail As : Pass < 5 ppm < Fail Pb : Pass < 10 ppm < Fail

compound , needs to be analysed to confirm the existence of claimed products .

As for quantitative category , the specific marker compound , the measurable target to confirm it is above the dosage limit which will be based on advice by the authority .

For example , if the product is claimed to contain Korean ginseng , then the product is sent to the lab to confirm the existence of the targetted marker compound , which only existed in Korean ginseng .

Next , if the targetted compound is found , then it will be measured to ensure the percentage is above the suggested limit by the related authority .

Meaning that if targetted marker com the suggested limit , then it is considered as passed . If the targetted marker compound is below the recommended limit , then it is viewed as a fail .

If there is no trace of targetted marker compound , then it is considered to have failed as well .

Value for money

The package of halal analysis is supposed to be enforced by the authority and implemented by the manufacturer so that consumers will enjoy the value of halal certified products .

This is how we value halal-certified products . By having halal analysis for halalcertified products , the benefit is for Muslims and non-Muslims .

For Muslims , if they buy a product with the halal logo on the packaging , they will be confident that the product is free of pork and free of alcohol . They will be confident the product is safe to be consumed , and they will be also optimistic that it would be a fair value .

As for non-Muslims , even though they are not concerned about porcine and alcohol content , at least they will be confident the product is safe and worth the price

All these values would benefit the authority , manufacturers and consumers if a halal analysis was done . But if the halal analysis is not prioritised , then the value of the halal logo benefits only the manufacturer .

That ’ s the importance of halal science , that ’ s the value of the halal logo , and that ’ s the beauty of Islam .

Microbial

RESULT TAMC : Pass < 104 - 107cfu / g or ml < Fail TYMC : Pass < 102 - 105cfu / g or ml < Fail

ETHIC

PURITY Muslim & Non-Muslim

Qualitative & Quantitative

Marker compound

RESULT

Present & Exceed MOD = Pass Present & Below MOD = Fail Absent = Fail

MOD : Minimum of Dosage Sept 2017