The export value of K-Food and K-Cosmetics is increasing every year, and tourists visiting Korea do not hesitate to spend money on K-Food and K-Cosmetics.
Exports to Islamic countries, known as the 'Halal' market, are also increasing day by day. According to the Korea Halal Industry Institute, in the case of cosmetics, exports to 53 Islamic countries exceeded $900 million in 2024, setting an all-time high and accounting for nearly 10% of Korea's total cosmetics exports.
Cosmetics companies currently in consultation with buyers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Middle East say they are faced with the requirement of halal certification as consultations with these Islamic countries become more active. In particular, in Indonesia, one of the largest markets for K-Beauty, halal certification for cosmetics will become mandatory from October of next year (2026), making it a hot topic in the cosmetics industry.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has been supporting the cosmetics industry's halal certification since 2016, carrying out support projects such as halal cosmetics certification training, webinars with invited overseas experts, and on-site consultation sessions with halal certification experts to resolve companies' concerns.
The on-site consultation session with halal certification experts is a program that provides unlimited, one-on-one consultations to answer companies' questions about halal certification. The satisfaction of companies that have received consultations is said to be very high, as experienced experts directly address their concerns, such as halal certification costs, time required for certification, choice of certification body, necessary documents, appropriate raw materials for halal cosmetics, and the establishment of a system for halal product production.
Noh Jang-seo, director of the Korea Halal Industry Institute, who is conducting on-site consultations with companies, says that a variety of cosmetics companies, from mid-sized cosmetics ODM/OEM companies with hundreds of billions of won in sales to sales-focused cosmetics companies operating globally known brands without their own manufacturing facilities, and new cosmetics companies with excellent raw material development technology for skin improvement, are applying for the on-site consultation session, resolving their long-held questions about halal certification and expressing immediate satisfaction.
The on-site consultation session for cosmetics companies regarding halal certification is scheduled to run until mid-November for the first 15 companies. Inquiries and applications: 02-3275-1125 (Korea Halal Industry Institute).
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