Islamic Law regarding gelatin
If the source of Gelatine is derived from a Halaal source then its usage is permissible, whilst if the source is Haraam or Mashqook [doubtful] then it will be considered Haraam. The hide matrix or gelatine protein is basically a piece of skin, which is hydrollised, washed, melted and extracted, purified, evaporated, sterilised, chilled, dried and granulated for further shelf life and easy use. Alkaline treatment tends to remove amide groups present on certain amino acid residues on the collagen protein chains resulting in a lowering of the isoelectric point and consequently an alteration not a transformation of the chemical and physical properties of the protein occurs. Despite the above method of changing a raw product into gelatine under tremendous chemical pressure still retains much of its chemical equation. The collagen triple helix structure is lost during this procedure but the resultant Gelatine product retains the original coil structure. The aspect of Tabdeel-e-Mahiyyat does not take place.
Muslims should avoid choosing Haraam and doubtful ingredients. If a comparable medication is available in tablet or liquid form it would be advisable to ask for them instead of taking capsules. In the area of food we have such a vast selection of products whereby foregoing a certain brand containing Gelatine should pose no problem. In the UK it is a legal requirement to list ingredients in products and a reference to this guide will indicate what can be consumed or not. Muslim countries as well as local associations should provide finances to initiate and promote research to develop alternate forms to Gelatine to overcome this problem.
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=67&CATE=90
Muslims should avoid choosing Haraam and doubtful ingredients. If a comparable medication is available in tablet or liquid form it would be advisable to ask for them instead of taking capsules. In the area of food we have such a vast selection of products whereby foregoing a certain brand containing Gelatine should pose no problem. In the UK it is a legal requirement to list ingredients in products and a reference to this guide will indicate what can be consumed or not. Muslim countries as well as local associations should provide finances to initiate and promote research to develop alternate forms to Gelatine to overcome this problem.
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=67&CATE=90
Alcohol in Doubt?
Question
Is it okay to use alcohol-based medication?
Answer
According to the Qur'an and Sunnah, it is haram (forbidden) to drink alcohol or alcoholic beverages. Even a small amount of alcohol is haram and it must be avoided. As for medicine containing alcohol, the basic ruling in normal circumstances is that it should be avoided unless there is a necessity and there is no alternative and it is prescribed by a trustworthy Muslim doctor.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Ash-Shinqiti, director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas, states the following:
The basic rule in normal circumstances is to avoid the thing that has alcohol as ingredient. Therefore, if you have an alternative medication that is alcohol-free, then it is forbidden to use the alcohol-based one. This is based on the Prophet’s saying: "What intoxicates in big quantity, a small amount of its consumption is also forbidden" (At-Timidhi).
However, if no alternative is available, the fiqh councils have concluded that based on the rule of istihlak (a case when the forbidden substance is insignificant compared to the lawful one), the alcohol-based medication is permissible. This is based on the fact that seeking medical treatment is necessary. It is reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) allowed `Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf to wear silk, which is forbidden for men, because he was suffering from scabies (a skin disease).
Retrieved from http://web.hdcglobal.com/en09/index.html
Medicine Containing Alcohol
Responding to the question in point, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states:
"Some jurists do not consider medicine to be necessary as food. They cited the following Hadith to support their argument. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, "Allah has not made things that are unlawful for you to consume to be your medicine."
On the other hand, other jurists maintain that medicine is so important and necessary as food. Both of them preserve man and safeguard his life. They said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has allowed both `Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf and Az-Zubayr ibn Al-`Awwaam to wear silk garments, though male Muslims are not allowed to wear it, because of necessity. The two men were suffering from some sort of itching.
It seems that the aforementioned view goes in harmony with the spirit of Islam. However, there are certain conditions that must be fulfilled in order to take a medicine containing haram ingredients. Such conditions may be classified as follows:
1. The medicine containing haram ingredients (alcohol as stated in the question) must be necessary for the life of the person who takes it.
2. A knowledgeable and trustworthy Muslim physician should recommend such type of medicine containing alcohol.
3. The person is not allowed to take this particular type of medicine while there are other lawful medicines available."
"Some jurists do not consider medicine to be necessary as food. They cited the following Hadith to support their argument. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, "Allah has not made things that are unlawful for you to consume to be your medicine."
On the other hand, other jurists maintain that medicine is so important and necessary as food. Both of them preserve man and safeguard his life. They said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has allowed both `Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf and Az-Zubayr ibn Al-`Awwaam to wear silk garments, though male Muslims are not allowed to wear it, because of necessity. The two men were suffering from some sort of itching.
It seems that the aforementioned view goes in harmony with the spirit of Islam. However, there are certain conditions that must be fulfilled in order to take a medicine containing haram ingredients. Such conditions may be classified as follows:
1. The medicine containing haram ingredients (alcohol as stated in the question) must be necessary for the life of the person who takes it.
2. A knowledgeable and trustworthy Muslim physician should recommend such type of medicine containing alcohol.
3. The person is not allowed to take this particular type of medicine while there are other lawful medicines available."
Halal Authority
Asia continent:
1) Malaysia
All halal certification applications, auditing, monitoring and enforcement will be administered by JAKIM which has been given responsibility to upgrade the status and integrity of Malaysian halal certification globally. For further details, go to www.islam.gov.my
2) Thailand
The Institute Halal Standard Institute of Thailand helps ensure that the development and certification of Halal food standards complies with the provisions of the Islamic Religion and correspond to international standards so that it is trusted and accepted by local and international public, food producers and consumers. The Halal Standard Institute of Thailand can be contacted through http://www.halal.or.th
3) Indonesia
Lembaga Pengkajian Pangan Obat-obatan dan Kosmetika - Majelis Ulama Indonesia (LPPOM-MUI), is an institution formed by MUI to run MUI function in protecting muslim consumers in consuming products of foods, drugs, and cosmetics. Its missions including to establish and develop halal standard and inspection system. To halal certify foods, drugs and cosmetics consumed by the people. For further details, go to http://www.halalmui.org
4) Philippines
The Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines, Inc., (IDCP) is a duly recognized Halal Certification and Accreditation Authority in the Philippines under G.R. No. 153888 dated July 09, 2003. It is also the only certifying body in the Philippines which is accepted to authenticate products for the Arab world, U.A.E., K.S.A., Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the only member of the World Halal Council (WHC). For further details, go to http://www.idcp-ph.org
5) Singapore
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is your one-stop centre to Halal certification. As the sole custodian of Halal certification in Singapore, Muis ensures good Halal assurance standards in all certified premises. The Halal Certification Strategic Unit of Muis is ISO 9001 certified and provides a wide range of personalised Halal services. At present, Muis offers six types of Halal certification schemes to cater to various sectors of the industry. For further details, go to http://www.muis.gov.sg/cms/services/hal.aspx?id=458
North America Continent
1) CanadaISNA Halal Certification Agency (HCA) was set up and incorporated at the Federal level on December 24, 2001 and was entrusted with the responsibilities of Halal Food certification being produced and manufactured in Canada in the United States. Since then, HCA developed its own Halal Logo which replaced the ISNA Canada Halal Logo. For further details, go to http://www.isnahalal.ca/index.html
Africa Continent
1) South Africa
Malaysia Set To Be World's First Halal Collagen Hub, Says Muhyiddin
By Bernama
Sep 17, 2009
Retrieved from halalfocus.com
Sep 17, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to be the world's first Halal Collagen Hub with the successful takeover of a listed Australian biotechnology company specialising in the development and commercialisation of ovine collagen.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the takeover by a Malaysian BioNexus company was a significant step forward towards becoming a world Halal Collagen Hub.
Holista Biotech Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian BioNexus Company, completed the takeover of Colltech Australia Ltd, which holds a patent to extract ovine collagen from sheep until 2023.
Ovine Collagen is culturally acceptable and halal-certified.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia's biotechnology sector had within a short span of time advanced a step forward, thus contributing to the country's growth level.
"We hope to increase contributions of the biotechnology sector to five per cent of the country's gross domestic product," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of two agreements.
One agreement is for the joint venture between UEM Land Holdings Bhd and Malaysian Biotech Corporation Sdn Bhd and the other between Holista-Colltech, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Muhyiddin said though the percentage was rather high, various measures have been taken to realise the target especially through planned commercialisation programmes between 2011 and 2015.
" We have quite strong fundamentals as the basic principles are already in place in the country. What is important now is to move forward to the commercialisation phase and financing," he said.
So far, 114 companies have been granted BioNexus status, he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Muhyiddin said a total investment of RM1.4 billion, including foreign direct investments, ranging from plant genomics to animal breeding; nutraceuticals to stem cell engineering; and bio-remediation to bio-fuels, have been approved.
" Despite the relatively short span of four years of industry development, Malaysian BioNexus companies have demonstrated high value capital growth with a combined market capitalisation of over RM2.3 billion for the three listed BioNexus companies," he said.
In terms of earnings todate, the combined total revenue of BioNexus companies are in excess of RM400 million.
Retrieved from halalfocus.com
30 Per Cent Of 100 Health Capsules Tested By USM Not Halal
By BERNAMA
Nov 2, 2009
PENANG, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Almost 30 per cent of 100 health products tested at Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Pharmaceutical Science Studies Centre laboratary were found to be not halal as gelatine from pigs was used in making the product capsules.
The centre's dean, Assoc Prof Dr Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman said the products were tested since a year ago after they were delivered by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau and the product manufacturers to identify the source of gelatine in the capsules.
"Out of 100 products we tested, 30 were not halal because pig gelatine was used in making the capsules. Pig gelatine is cheaper compared to cow gelatine.
"However, this does not represent the overall situation where gelatine capsules are concerned in Malaysia as manufacturers took remedial action by changing to capsules made from cow gelatine on being informed of the matter," he told a news conference at the university here Monday.
He urged the Health Ministry to make it compulsory for health product manufacturers to ensure gelatine used in their products was halal.
Meanwhile, a group of USM researchers headed by Associate Prof Dr Gam Lay Harn has successfully produced a method, a first in Malaysia, to identify gelatine source in medicine or health product capsules.
"By using specific bio-markers for every type of gelatine, we can identify whether the gelatine source is from a cow or a pig.
"This method is not only able to trace the source but also identify gelatine mixture from various sources," he said.
He added that USM had filed to patent the findings of the research worldwide.
Retrieved from halalfocus.com
Canada Drug Firm to Build Halal Facility
A CANADA-based pharmaceutical company is keen to build a Brunei facility that will make halal pharmaceutical products for the Muslim world, the High Commissioner of Canada yesterday said during a new year celebration held at the commissioner’s residence yesterday, Wendell Sanford said the project could cost US$12 million, but added the figure is still not confirmed.
Other details of the project were not available, but the envoy said the project is “already in its final stages”.
The company, whose name the envoy declined to reveal for now, is a specialised pharmaceutical firm based in Vancouver.
He said company officials are scheduled to come to Brunei this year.
“They are in the final stages of putting together a project which will build a facility in Brunei to make pharmaceutics to the halal standard for exports from Brunei to the Muslim world,” Sanford said.
As Canada is always seeking for investment opportunities and projects with Brunei, he also told The Brunei Times of his interest in helping the government of Brunei in its Heart of Borneo (HoB) project.
“We are certainly interested in cooperations that can be brought together by the two countries (Brunei and Canada),” Sanford answered, when asked if Canada would be interested in helping out Brunei’s HoB plans, although no immediate plans were released.
A press statement from the high commission said that trade and investment between Canada and Brunei are still at a modest level and have yet to reach their full potential.
“Investment by both sides and partnering ventures could greatly contribute to enlarging each other’s market base and presence in their respective region,” it said.
“These positive factors have strengthened Canada’s recent export success in Brunei. While modest in proportion to overall Canadian exports, merchandise exports to Brunei surged to C$18.2 million in Brunei in 2008, an increase since 2006.” Canadian merchandise imports from Brunei remained modest on the other hand, it said.
“Bilateral trade has been complemented by increasing Canadian investment and trade in services assisted by expressed interest to expand the Canadian presence in a number of sectors in Brunei,” the statement said.
It noted Canadian firms’ presence in Brunei, noting “several Canadian firms have made considerable inroads in the environmental services sector in Brunei and have established very successful joint ventures with local companies, mainly in the areas of soil remediation and the treatment of waste oil for Brunei Shell Petroleum.”
The Royal Bank of Canada was the first foreign bank to be granted the first offshore licence to start operation in Brunei, the statement said .
National Petroleum (Calgary) is also involved in the exploration of Block L in the northeastern part of Brunei.
Canadian companies are also active in the information communication technology sector, the statement said.
Retrieved from halalfocus.com
