New range of culture media certified Halal

For example, in Malaysia, the Halal market contributes to about 10% of its GDP, notably from food and drink, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and banking segments. In Indonesia, the obligation for Halal certification was first applied to all domestic food and beverage products in 2024, and is expected to cover cosmetic, pharmaceutical and medical device products in the coming years, domestic or imported.

To answer to such demand, Biokar Diagnostics has launched a new Halal range of dehydrated culture media, starting with 4 essential formulations that respond to the microbiological testing of food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products :

Buffered Peptone Water Halal (BPW Halal) acc. ISO ……………………………………….BK242HA/GC

Tryptone Casein Soy Broth Halal (TSB HALAL) acc. EP, USP, JP……………………… BK243HA/GC

Tryptone Casein Soy Agar Halal (TSA HALAL) acc. ISO, EP, USP, JP………………… BK244HA/GC

Thioglycolate Broth with Resazurin Halal (FTM HALAL) acc. EP, USP, JP………… BK245HA/GC

These four media correspond to ISO standards and/or harmonized pharmacopoeia. They come in dehydrated formats of 500 g and 5 kg, allowing preparation of broth, plates, contact plates or dip slides for various QC tests such as sterility control, air testing and surface sampling, without compromising a Halal compliant production environment or product.

The Halal certification is granted by HFFIA, a world-renowned Halal certification organization. Such certification can only be granted to final product after rigorous examination of each ingredient, material as well as the whole industrial process, including the entire chain of raw material manufacturing. To ensure continued compliance, an extensive annual audit is required for the Biokar Diagnostics facility as well as renewed certification of all raw materials suppliers.

For years, our Peptone Division has successfully obtained and renewed Halal certification from HFFIA for multiple products. The infrastructure and accumulated expertise in Halal-compliant production allows Biokar Diagnostics to meet the high standards of HFFIA.

How to obtain Halal certification !

Obtaining Halal certification for microbiology products through the Halal Feed and Food Inspection Authority (HFFIA) involves a comprehensive process to ensure that all aspects of products and manufacturing practices comply with Islamic standards.

The basic steps are :

1. Application Submission

Submitting a detailed application to HFFIA. This application encompasses comprehensive information about the company, products to certify, all ingredients and materials involved in the production and the complete production processes.

2. Initial Review and Meeting

Once application is received, HFFIA will conduct a preliminary review to assess its completeness and the suitability of products for Halal certification. If the initial assessment is favorable, HFFIA will arrange a meeting to present their certification policies, working methods, and guidelines related to Halal compliance. This collaborative discussion ensures that both parties have a clear understanding of the certification requirements and procedures. Often, a preliminary visit of the manufacturing site might take place, in order to better assess the organization, process and potential areas of conflict to Islamic principles.

3. Screening Process

In this phase, HFFIA conducts a meticulous assessment of all components related to the products by evaluating:

• Ingredients and Additives
• Cleaning Materials
• Packaging Materials
• Production site

This thorough screening ensures that all elements involved in your product’s lifecycle adhere to Halal requirements.

4. Audit Process

Following the successful completion of the screening, HFFIA initiates audits. These audits are designed to confirm that production processes are in strict accordance with Halal guidelines. All aspects of production are susceptible to be examined, no dossiers are closed and complete transparency is respected. Halal certification is not just the result of a business transaction, but an act of trust between partners.

5. Certification Decision

After the audits, HFFIA’s certification committee reviews the findings to make an informed decision regarding Halal certification. At this point HFFIA might make suggestions to improve the Halal aspect of production or reinforce the certification. If this takes place, the suggestions will be put into place and the process reviewed when completed. Once the products and processes meet all necessary Halal criteria, HFFIA grants certification, allowing our products to go to market as Halal-compliant. Our Halal certificate is then modified with new products added.

6. Post-Certification Surveillance

Halal certification is an ongoing commitment. HFFIA conducts periodic surveillance to ensure continued compliance with Halal standards. This may involve scheduled audits, random inspections, and continuous monitoring of products and processes. The Halal certificate is renewed tacitly every year, and subject to the annual Halal audit.

However, it is important to emphasize that Halal certification with HFFIA is more than just additional surveillance and Halal-certified components.  Halal certification, training and respect to procedures is an integral part of the Quality System at Solabia.  Written into the Quality Manual itself, the respect to Halal also passes by a Halal committee, designated factory representatives and member of the QSE group. Halal is not simply a label, a sticker or a hastily conceived piece of paper, but integrated into the very culture of the company.