By LPPOM MUI

Hazardous Ingredients Block Certification

Halal in Islam covers every aspect of daily life, including cosmetic products that are now part of modern routines. However, halal status is not determined solely by the absence of impure elements such as pork derivatives or improperly slaughtered animal ingredients. In cosmetics, halal must also meet safety requirements.

Halal is inseparable from the concept of thayyib, meaning good, safe, and healthy. According to Muti Arintawati, President Director of LPPOM, halal certification evaluates not only ingredient purity but also product safety. This positions halal as both a religious guideline and a form of consumer health protection.

In the certification process, LPPOM refers to regulations set by Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), which strictly bans hazardous substances in cosmetics. BPOM Regulation No. 12 of 2023 on Cosmetic Supervision, for example, prohibits materials such as mercury. Even if a cosmetic product is free from impurity, the presence of mercury automatically disqualifies it from halal certification.

Mercury is commonly found in illegal skin-whitening products due to its fast results, yet it poses serious health risks, including kidney damage and nervous system disorders. Other prohibited substances include lead, arsenic, and excessive hydroquinone, all of which are toxic and potentially carcinogenic. Products containing these ingredients are considered neither safe nor halal.

Halal Thayyib Protects Consumers

A product may meet halal ingredient requirements yet still fail the thayyib standard if it endangers health. Cosmetic producers must therefore ensure ingredient purity alongside compliance with safety regulations. From this perspective, halal certification functions as consumer protection, guaranteeing spiritual compliance and physical safety.

Islamic teachings forbid the use of harmful substances, reinforcing that halal cosmetics must be safe. Misunderstanding halal as merely “free from impurity” risks reducing it to a symbolic label rather than a quality benchmark.

Despite rising consumer demand for halal products, many manufacturers still overlook safety elements during formulation. Once hazardous ingredients are used, certification cannot proceed without reformulation. This presents a challenge in an industry driven by promises of quick results.

To address this, LPH LPPOM offers educational programs such as Halal On 30, which explains halal standards in a concise format. The LPPOM MUI Laboratory also provides accredited testing services to support compliant cosmetic production.

Consumers play a key role by checking halal labels, BPOM permits, and ingredient lists. Increasingly, buyers expect products that are both halal and safe. In essence, halal certification is not merely market access, it is a safeguard against harmful products and a standard that prioritizes long-term wellbeing.

Original Article:

LPPOM MUI. (2025). Being free from impurities isn’t enough: Hazardous substances can fail cosmetic halal certification. LPPOM MUI. https://halalmui.org/en/being-free-from-impurities-isnt-enough-hazardous-substances-can-fail-cosmetic-halal-certification/