Dubai to conduct Halal tests on cosmetics

Dubai Municipality’s Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL) has started a service that enables testing of Halal cosmetics.

DCL will conduct the tests using advanced technologies, while meeting international practices, reported news agency WAM.

Among the cosmetics and personal care products to be tested include lipsticks, creams and soaps.

Tests will done to detect presence of ingredients or production methods not permitted in Islam. 

DCL department director Amin Ahmed was quoted by Arabianbusiness.com as saying: "As the concept of Halal is most often centreed around food products, DCL undertook the important role of developing this initiative using the Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy technology to detect the presence of pork fat and to confirm it by using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.

"The new service is useful to the customers of these products, traders, statutory and regulatory bodies.

"It is one of the regulatory requirements of the Gulf Standard Specifications, which states that these products are free of pork fat and its derivatives."

The spending on Halal products such as vaccines, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetics is likely to reach $213bn over the next four years.