In the current era, we are familiar with the use of cosmetics. One of them which is always used everyday is soap. The familiarity of this product with our daily needs needs special attention. The reason is, even though it is not consumed or does not enter the body directly, but the use of soap still comes in direct contact with the skin.
What is the process of halal inspection of the product? Is it the same as other products?
Act No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance that effective on October 17, 2019 mandates that all products circulating in Indonesia must be halal-certified. These products, according to the provisions of Article 1 of the Halal Product Assurance Act, are goods and / or services related to food, beverages, drugs, cosmetics, chemical products, biological products, genetic engineering products, as well as used goods that are used, used or utilized by the community.
Thus, it is clear that according to the Act soap and other facial cleansing products are included in products that must be halal certification. In addition, in substance, soap is very necessary to do halal certification because bath soap is a product that is in direct contact with the skin, its use is intended for cleaning. Therefore, cleaning products such as soap and facial cleansers, or skin must be free from unclean substances.
Drs. Chilwan Pandji Apt, MSc, LPPOM MUI Board of Trustees, explained that soap, especially facial soap, contains added ingredients of activated carbon or activated charcoal. This material is believed to absorb and lift impurities from the surface to the pores.
There are various sources of activated charcoal. Some of these include charcoal which is commonly used for pale, effective coconut shell used for diarrhea medicine, and coal used for sugar bleach. Meanwhile, activated charcoal used in soap is usually taken from animal bones.
“If activated charcoal is used from pork bones, it is definitely forbidden for Muslims to use it. If the bones of other animals of the halal animal type are used, it is important to trace the process of slaughter. If the process is at odds with the rules of slaughtering shari’i, this could have an impact on its prohibition, “said Chilwan.
For gel form of soap, he added, an ingredient that needs to be considered is the emulsifier which functions to unite the two phases (liquid and fat) and glycerin or glycerol (the main component in making soap). Both of these ingredients can come from animals. That must be wary of is the use of materials originating from haram (pigs) or halal animals slaughtered that are not in accordance with Islamic law.
Related to the process of testing halal products for commodities such as soap, inspection or testing of these products are basically no different from examinations of other products that generally include examining raw materials, additives, auxiliary materials, production processes to production facilities, and implementing the Halal Assurance System (HAS). (*)
