PELAKSANAAN MALAYSIAN STANDARD MS 2424:2012 HALAL PHARMACEUTICALS-GENERAL GUIDELINES

Abstract

Many changes and developments have occurred in the pharmaceutical field in Malaysia. Halal pharmaceuticals has changed the production of pharmaceutical products. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) together with other government agencies and pharmaceutical industry have developed a new standard known as Malaysian Standard MS 2424:2012 Halal Pharmaceuticals-General Guidelines, which serves as a guideline for the halal pharmaceuticals industry. It is a positive development because currently we are dependent on imported pharmaceutical products of which their halal status is unknown. Although this effort has been successful in creating a system of certification for halal pharmaceutical products, however, the actual implementation of such standard by the halal certification bodies Malaysia (JAKIM) and the industry must be examined as it is a new standard. Therefore, a study on “The Implementation of Malaysian Standard MS 2424:2014 Halal Pharmaceuticals-General Guidelines and its impact on Malaysia’s Halal Certification” is very a significant field to study especially to see if it is carried out in accordance with the requirement and development of halal pharmaceutical industry in Malaysia. The objective of this study is to analyse the standard’s significance, provisions, applications and impacts. To achieve these objectives, the data were collected by way of documentation review and structured interviews which are conducted from relevant respondents who are directly involved in halal pharmaceuticals in Malaysia. The qualitativedescriptive, deductive and inductive approach has been used to analyze secondary and primary data. The findings of this study showed that JAKIM and the pharmaceutical industry are capable to implement the Malaysian Standard MS 2424 based on halal certification requirements. The study also found the implementation of the relevant standard on halal have been advantageous both to JAKIM and the pharmaceutical industry. However in implementing the standards, there are some obstacles and challenges that must be tackled either by the JAKIM or the pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the study, a number of recommendations have been provided to strengthen and facilitate the certification process of halal pharmaceutical products.