Halal certification from MUI, one of the top three worldwide halal bodies, is reportedly recognised by around 40 countries across the globe, according to the Korea Herald, and Cosmax sees the accreditation as the first step in its strategy to become a ‘hub’ for halal beauty in the Asia region.
“Having received halal certification, we will do our best to become the hub of Korea’s halal cosmetics exports,” confirmed Lee Kun-il, head of PT Cosmax Indonesia, who went on to speak of the company’s global ambitions for its halal output.
“We will work to meet the needs of our Muslim beauty consumers in not just Southeast Asia, but also the Middle East and other parts of the world in the future.”
Halal in Asia
With the rise of urbanisation across Muslim-majority countries in Asia and the Middle East, halal beauty is becoming an increasingly robust sector.
The rise of the halal category comes particularly hand-in-hand with a rising segment of young, modern Muslim women, keen to combine religious observance with an emphasis on fashion and beauty, according to industry commentators.
The Philippines and Pakistan are two countries in the region which already this year have made moves to strengthen domestic halal output, in confirmation that governments and brands alike are keen to tap into the strong potential growth that halal beauty offers.
Global appetite
Consumer appetite for halal cosmetics isn’t confined to Asia, though: recently, major beauty players in the West have made significant strides to consolidate their halal credentials.
In March, chemicals company BASF announced that 145 of its personal care products now comply with halal standards, and in January, Seven Scent became the first UK-based fragrance supplier to achieve halal certification for its full portfolio
“We wanted to formalise and strengthen our position - not only to future proof established brands in key Asian countries, but also open up new opportunities in western markets where there is untapped potential for halal-certified personal care and cosmetic products,” Alistair Wilding, head of technical at Seven Scent, confirmed.