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@ Halal | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER . 2023

BY DR AZMI ABD AZIZ Chief Technical Officer , Global Haltech

INTRODUCTION

The halal cosmetic products industry is gaining attention in the market now because consumer awareness is increasing . It emphasises the halal status of cosmetic products ( Azreen Jihan & Rosidah 2014 ). In Malaysia , halal cosmetic products are gaining traction among industrialists and consumers even though there is an overflow of products from abroad today .

Demand and supply in the local halal cosmetics market showed an increasing trend due to the growing level of education and awareness about halal products . ( Saqib Ali et . al . 2016 ).

The global halal cosmetics market size is estimated to increase with the global Islamic population base willing to pay premium prices for halal-certified beauty products . Growing awareness regarding the use of cosmetic products is also likely to be one of the key factors driving the market . The halal industry has gained much attention from the Muslim world due to the comprehensiveness of halal procedures regarding hygiene , cleanliness , health , and the production process for the products they consume , use , and purchase ( Hamid A ., et . al ., 2019 ). All products and services produced with halal preparations are willingly tolerable by Muslims or consumers from other religions ( Ambali A . R ., et . al ., 2014 ).

The commitment and efforts shown by Malaysia in developing its halal industry align with the country ’ s aspirations to become a leading innovator of the global halal hub . However , the industry ’ s development is not only about fulfilling the market demands for the Muslim community but also comprehensively exhibiting the values of Islam .

COSMETICS AND HALAL INDUSTRY

The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics was found in ancient Egypt around 4000 BC . The ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetic products . The ancient Romans and Egyptians used cosmetic products containing mercury and lead ( Pallingstone 1998 ).

Consumers of halal cosmetics are often exposed to a crisis of confidence in the credibility of cosmetic manufacturers who use fake halal logos to make profits quickly ( Badarudin 2019 ). It brings anxiety and doubts to consumers about halal certification , the control of compliance with the set standards , and the integrity of suppliers , producers , and traders of halal products .

In addition , the level of consumer awareness that is still low among Muslim consumers towards halal products is also considered . Previously , Muslim consumers did not care about whether cosmetic products were halal or not . They get something that is halal based solely on self-awareness and inaccurate information . ( Adilah et al . 2016 ). In an increasingly sophisticated life with the development of science and technology , especially in cosmetics , more and more issues arise related to halal that involve technical matters . According to Azmi et . al . ( 2010 ), Muslim consumers may be motivated to choose halal cosmetic products because the cosmetic products are halal in sharia .

In Malaysia , halal cosmetic products are gaining traction among industrialists and consumers even though there is an overflow of products from abroad today . Cosmetics can be generally defined as products used on the human body to clean , beautify , or change the appearance level without affecting the original body . According to Patton ( 2009 ), the demand for halal cosmetic products is increasing , driven by Muslim consumers and their interest in high-quality , halal and safe products .

Malaysia ’ s pluralistic society with various races , to some extent , presents a challenge in implementing and controlling halal cosmetic products . However , its importance is the shared responsibility of all Malaysians because not all goods that are said to be halal are produced by Muslims , but many are from non-Muslim manufacturers .

There are goods imported from non- Muslim countries for predominantly Muslim consumers , such as Malaysia . Therefore , there is an economic and social interest in implementing halal in Malaysia because the acceptance of Muslims is very high about halal products . So , the producers must comply with the halal standards issued by the government .

The non-Muslim entrepreneurs are having trouble understanding the halal certification process , including the halal and toyyiban concepts . Soraji et al . ( 2017 ) listed their concerns regarding the challenges faced by the government in developing the halal industry in Malaysia . Explaining the correct concept of halal to Muslim and non-Muslim companies is challenging .

Companies sometimes wrongly assume that hiring Muslim staff and their presence in the workspace already fulfils the requirement or element of being halal . Other quality certifications can also be helpful in halal certification applications , such as Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP ), Total Quality Management ( TQM ), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point ( HACCP ), International Standard Organisation ( ISO ), and Good Hygiene Practice ( GHP ) ( Buang and Mahmod , 2012 ).

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COSMETICS CONTROL IN MALAYSIA

All cosmetic products must be notified to the Director of Pharmaceutical Services ( NPRA )