Halal tests done on cosmetics

DUBAI // Cosmetics and personal hygiene items are being tested to ensure they meet halal standards.

The testing is done by experts at the Dubai Central Laboratory of Dubai Municipality.

Products such as lipsticks, creams and soaps will be checked to protect shoppers from ingredients or production methods that do not meet permissible standards for Muslims.

Amin Ahmed, director of the laboratory, said the concept of halal was most often associated with food products, but cosmetics and beauty products sometimes contained pork products.

Mr Ahmed said sophisticated technological equipment was used to test for the presence of pork fat in all products.

“The new service is useful to the customers of these products, traders, statutory and regulatory bodies,” he said.

“It was a regulatory requirement of the Gulf Standard Specifications to make sure products are free of pork fat and its derivatives.”