The new notification rubbed brands like Reckitt Benckiser up the wrong way, who claimed that the issue falls under the scope of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act rather than Legal Metrology.
Benckiser's personal care range consists of Veet, Clearasil, E45, Lutsine and Intima. Back in 2009, it was one of the first companies in the world to get a ISO 22176 certification for its French manufacturing facility, which produces the group’s personal care products range.
'The source of hundreds of ingredients is not possible to ascertain'
Following Benckiser's plea that in 2013, the Supreme Court held without "fruitful consideration" that no amendment can be made or suggested to change label of drugs, Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw has issued notice to the government and sought its response by 18 May.
According to regional publication 'firstpost.com'; the brand argued that the Drugs Technical Advisory Board has not been agreeable to indicating on cosmetics labels, whether the source of the product was vegetarian or non-vegetarian; "because unlike food; cosmetics are not for oral consumption and are manufactured from hundreds of ingredients whose source would not possible to ascertain".
The publication also reported Benckiser to have referred to a similar plea by an Indian cosmetics manufacturers association, which requested the government not take "coercive steps" against the petitioner firms for not declaring whether their products contained any ingredient of animal origin.
Call for more cosmetics to be 'animal free' in Asia
A 2014 report from market researcher TechNavio highlighted the rise of cosmetics making justifiable halal claims, noting it expects the category to see growth at a CAGR of 11.08% by 2018.
The projected growth will follow two key consumer trends; the growing number of Muslim consumers, and increasing customer concern surrounding halal cosmetics.
For a product to be halal approved, it cannot contain alcohol, be tested on animals, or contain any non-permissible animal-derived ingredients.
At present, the segment's market share is just 5.7% of overall beauty sales, and despite there being a rising awareness and demand for halal cosmetics in recent years, the Halal Research Council state that more than 20% of the market potential is not being catered so far.