Selma Djukic, president of White Owl Global Services Ltd, a service and consulting agency targeting the pharmaceutical industry, said halal accreditation goes beyond the simplified definition of just ingredients, and also includes business practices that make the product safe for consumption, manufactured in a clean environment, and in accordance with ethical standards.
"There is a growing movement in the world as a whole on finding a way to have the product supplies that are environmentally-friendly, that are organic, and in companies which take their profits and invest in enterprises with no profits, so all of this together is actually the definition of halal."
She said that it goes beyond what the ingredients are.
She said one of the biggest challenges in breaking into the pharmaceutical industry would be the labelling process as well as dealing with the prevailing mindset on what halal is.
"To get the labelling process done, and to make sure that the labelling says that the ingredients are halal would be a challenge because, at the same time, people are still developing a way to accredit medicine to be halal," Djukic added.
It is evident in supermarkets and pharmacies in Brunei that many take alternative medication, whether it includes jamu from Indonesia, or herbs from China.
Asked about the development of a halal alternative medicine, Djukic said the alternative medicine market is a great market to be involved in.
"In terms of best practices, (firms) should establish these practices within the company... they shouldn't do it the cheapest way necessary, they should do it in a way that has the best level of standards."
She noted the growing trend on the use of alternative medicine and that people are becoming more informed and that they are looking for alternatives.
"People have found that there is some wisdom behind some of the medicines that are being supplied. While some people may be hesitant to embark on it, there is that trust in the history of it and so I think people will want to move away from chemically-derived medicine into something that is more naturally-derived, so this is where I think you'll find an increase," she said.
Djukic also mentioned that companies should establish a supportive relationship with the government, private sector and the consumers in order to succeed.
"Basically, everyone has to work together to support one another and not treat it like a competition. They should help each other out and work towards a common goal, because working in isolation is just not the best way to go," she said. The Brunei Times
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