Based on the Pew Research Center (2011), the Muslim population in the world in 2030 is estimated to reach 2.2 billion or 30% of the world’s population. Meanwhile, the Muslim population in Indonesia alone makes up 87.2% of the total population of Indonesia (Muslimpopulation, 2022). It is confident that Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.
This was conveyed by apt. Ivan Santosa, M. Farm from PT. Kimia Farma in a national seminar entitled “The Role of Pharmacists in Preparing the 2026 Compulsory Halal Pharmaceutical Industry,” which was held at the UHAMKA Campus in collaboration with the East Jakarta Branch Management (PC) of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI), the UHAMKA Faculty of Pharmacy and Science, and The Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI).
“Market demand for halal products is huge. Halal is a susceptible issue in Indonesia. On the other hand, the trend of halal tourism is also starting to go global. This has potential for the global halal market, including the halal pharmaceutical industry sector,” explained Ivan.
However, the pharmaceutical industry still finds many obstacles to halal certification. The rules regarding mandatory halal certification have been stated in Act No. 6 of 2023. However, Ivan is optimistic that halal certification in the pharmaceutical sector will benefit products and add value.
There are four main benefits that business actors will impact directly. First, with halal certification, business actors have given Muslim consumers the right to obtain a halal guarantee. Second, halal certification is a form of compliance with the rules of halal certification obligations. Third, halal certification can increase sales value and expand the market. Fourth, halal certification is the basis for obtaining permission to include the halal logo on the packaging.
Irvan also explained the relationship between logistics services and halal certification for the pharmaceutical industry in his presentation. According to him, raw materials and facilities alone are insufficient to determine the halalness of pharmaceutical products. Logistics services are one part that also needs attention. This is because logistics services are part of the halal supply chain, which determines the process of handling the flow of materials or products along corridors that comply with halal standards.
The following are several categories of medicinal products that require halal certification.
- Traditional medicine: herbal medicine, standardized herbal medicine, phytopharmaceuticals, extracts of natural ingredients, imported traditional medicine, licensed traditional medicine, etc.
- Health supplements: vitamins, minerals, amino acids and/or other non-plant ingredients (fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, isolates, metabolites, and synthetic compounds) combined with plant health supplement ingredients.
- Quasi-medicine
- Over-the-counter medicines: all medicines are marked green with a black border.
- Limited over-the-counter medicines: all medicines are marked blue with a black border.
- Limited over-the-counter medicines: all medicines are specially marked on the packaging and labeled with the letter K in a red circle and a black outline.
- Medicinal ingredients: medicinal ingredients, active ingredients, excipient ingredients.
Even though the halal certification phase-in time for the pharmaceutical industry is still quite long, pharmaceutical business actors should prepare to welcome this mandatory halal certification rule. This is because the ingredients, regulations, and facilities are more complex than other products, so preparations must be done well in advance. In this case, LPPOM MUI is always ready to help business actors, including the pharmaceutical industry, as halal certification partners. (YN)
