SHAH ALAM, March 2 (Bernama) — The development of Malaysian Standards for halal pharmaceuutical products will offer pharmaceutical players an edge to compete in the increasingly competitive global halal markat, said Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Datuk Fadillah Yusof.
With the availability of Malaysian Standards in Halal Pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical players would have the ability to distinguish their products against global competitors.
The MS2424:2010 is a general guideline that describes the requirements and critical areas in the manufacture and handling of halal pharmaceutical products.
Speaking at a half-day public consultation forum on “Malaysian Standards for Halal Pharmaceuticals” here today, Fadillah said the challenge for the private sector was to utilise the new standard to promote the distinct quality of their products and services to the market.
The forum was organised by the Department of Standards Malaysia with the support of Halal Industry Development Corporation and Chemical Company of Malaysia (CCM) Bhd.
While the challenge for the government was to make the standard acceptable to the global market, Fadillah said the potential for pharmaceutical products with halal standards were huge as there were 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.
He added the increasing acceptance of halal products among non-Muslims and the global market value for halal products, including food and non-food, was estimated at US$2.1 trillion a year.
The goverment provided several incentives for Malaysian companies especially, small-and-medium scale enterprises, to enter the halal market, which included business planning and development grants, market development as well as brand promotion.
Fadillah also encouraged the private sector to promote the halal industry by
participating in the Malaysian International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), World Halal Forum and World Halal Research Summit.
The minister was hopeful the Halal Pharmaceutical Standard could be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at MIHAS 2011 so as to generate maximum impact and promotion.
Meanwhile, Senior Director of Standards and Policy Standards Malaysia Ridzwan Kassim told a press conference that the status of the halal pharmaceutical products were still “provisional”.
Therefore, he said forums and consultation with industry players and the public would be organised to obtain feedback on the new Malaysian Standard.
He said this was the first Malaysian standard developed, six months ago, for halal pharmaceutical products in response to industry demand.
The Halal Pharmaceutical Standards, tagged as Malaysian Standard MS 2424:2010 (P): Halal Pharmaceuticals: General Guidelines was developed by the Industry Standard Committee on Halal Standard.
The committee comprises the Department of Standards Malaysia, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Ministry of Health, CCM, the National Pharmaceutical Bureau, International Trade and Industry Ministry, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism , SIRIM Bhd and public universities.
— BERNAMA
