Ahead of the mandatory halal certification for cosmetics and some medicines on October 17, 2026, pharmacies in Indonesia are beginning to implement SJPH (Halal Product Assurance System). This effort presents challenges in separating products and facilities but also opens up significant opportunities for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries to increase the trust and comfort of Muslim consumers.
By: Fadila, Halal Auditor, LPH LPPOM
As the October 17, 2026, deadline for mandatory halal certification for cosmetics and some medicines approaches, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in Indonesia are actively registering for halal certification.
This includes hospital nutrition services and pharmacies, both retail and hospital based. Both are now preparing to ensure the products and services they offer comply with halal standards. However, the halal certification process for services at retail pharmacy outlets presents its own challenges.
As with other service businesses, the primary goal of halal certification in pharmacies is to maintain and ensure the halal status of halal products throughout the sales chain. During an audit, the auditor will examine the implementation of the Halal Product Assurance System (SJPH), particularly regarding potential contamination of production facilities and the completeness of written procedures for critical activities.
However, because the certification concerns sales services, not manufactured products, the halal logo cannot be displayed on manufactured products, such as compounded powders.
Storage of Materials and Products
Halal-certified pharmacies can still sell medicines or other health products, whether halal or not. However, they must ensure that halal products are not contaminated.
This is generally achieved by separating storage and display areas, for example, by placing products on separate pallets or shelves. If storage space is limited, protection can be achieved by ensuring halal products are tightly wrapped in primary or secondary packaging.
If a leak occurs from a product whose halal status is unconfirmed, the spilled product is considered contaminated. The product must be removed from display, destroyed, and the storage area cleaned by relevant personnel.
Production Facilities for Prescription Powder
For pharmacies that have facilities for dispensing medications, such as prescription powders, ensuring the halal certification of ingredients and equipment is crucial. The variety of raw material sources requires the purchasing manager to understand the origins of the ingredients to segregate equipment and production facilities properly.
Equipment such as mortars and pestles must be separated between those used for pork-free materials and those in contact with porcine-derived materials (PDM). Similarly, during the washing process, sinks for equipment that comes into contact with PDM must be separate from those used for pork-free materials.
Even if the production facilities are free of impurities and the ingredients used are derived from non-animal sources, the pharmacy sales service certification does not allow the display of a halal logo on compounded products. This is because the compounded recipes lack a standard formula, making it difficult to meet product certification requirements.
MUI Fatwa Regarding Drugs with Unclear Halal Status
To date, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) has not issued a specific fatwa regarding the legality of using drugs with unclear halal status. However, referring to previous cases—such as the use of the COVID-19 vaccine, the halal status of which remains unclear—the decision is generally permissible, based on several considerations, including:
- The Word of Allah SWT, which permits harmony in sharia-compliant emergencies.
- The Prophet’s hadith (peace be upon him) that every disease has a cure.
- The Prophet’s hadith (peace be upon him) prohibiting harm to oneself or others.
- Hadiths that encourage people to strive to avoid disease.
However, this permissibility is accompanied by the following recommendations:
- There must be a party that guarantees drug safety, such as the BPOM (Food and Drug Monitoring Agency), the Ministry of Health, or other authorized institutions.
- The procurement of halal drugs needs to be optimized.
Opportunities in the Health and Pharmaceutical Industry
The Indonesian pharmaceutical industry has significant potential to develop the production of halal drugs. Initial steps can be taken by selecting an active ingredient vendor that can provide documentation of halal origins and ensuring that the fillers or excipients used come from clearly halal sources.
For products such as vaccines or fermented active ingredients, the pharmaceutical industry can conduct research and development (R&D) using host cells from halal animals and pig-free media for microbial growth. This way, when ready for mass production, the raw materials are guaranteed to be halal, and the product can be halal certified.
Furthermore, healthcare businesses need to recognize that their primary customers are patients and their families. Physically weak or exhausted from caring for the sick, they desperately need fast, friendly, informative, and convenient service.
Ultimately, the presence of halal-certified pharmacies, healthcare services, and the halal pharmaceutical industry will provide Muslim consumers in Indonesia with a sense of security and comfort. When combined with a sound quality management system, a focus on customer satisfaction, and support from friendly, responsive staff, the potential of the halal market in Indonesia will be even greater and more promising. (***)
Source:
Halal Journal 176 https://halalmui.org/jurnal-halal/176/
