The Need for Legal Intervention within the Halal Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmaceutical products were not part of Halal debates previously. Nevertheless this scenario had changed when consumers are made aware of the genuine concept of Halal in all aspects of life. Pharmaceutical products are not categorized as certifiable under the current JAKIM's Halal certification procedure Manual. Whether the medicines are halal certified or not, has not been made transparent. An overview of medicine and permitted drug supply in hospitals and clinics indicates that most of the pharmaceutical products supplied are not certified Halal. Simultaneously, Muslims and non-Muslims consumers are becoming more discerning and demanded the assurance that the medicines and health supplements are of the highest quality and halal certified. Shocking revelation was made in November 2009 where almost 30 per cent of 100 health products tested at Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Pharmaceutical Science Studies Centre laboratory were found not to be halal as gelatin from bovine was used in making the product capsules. The objectives of this paper are firstly, to critically look into the role of law in governing the halal certified pharmaceutical products and secondly, to justify the need to review the current legal framework. This research embarks into a qualitative conceptual study. Primary data obtained from an in depth interview, statutes, rules and procedure from the Ministry of Health and JAKIM and Hansard is analysed. The secondary data is generated from statistics, annual reports and reliable article and book writings. The results suggests an appropriate reformation to the current legal framework and justifies the effort that should be geared towards formalising rules for the manufacture of halal medicines.