Korean Ministry Ramps Up Support for K-Beauty Halal Certification

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), led by Oh Yoo-kyung, announced on the 17th that it will host a seminar and training session aimed at providing halal certification expertise to cosmetic manufacturers. This initiative is critical for supporting K-beauty brands looking to penetrate the fast-growing halal cosmetics market.

Korea's cosmetic exports recently experienced robust growth, hitting a trade surplus of $10 billion for the first time in 2025, propelling the country to the rank of the world’s second-largest exporter. To maintain this upward trajectory, expanding into new markets is imperative, particularly in the context of increasing global demand for halal products.

The halal cosmetics market is projected to grow from $87 billion in 2023 to $118 billion by 2028, marking an impressive annual growth rate of 6.3%. In light of Indonesia’s implementation of mandatory halal certification labels for cosmetics starting this October, the necessity for domestic companies to access streamlined market entry pathways has intensified.

To enhance the halal certification capabilities within Korea's beauty industry and to facilitate market entry into pivotal halal markets like Indonesia, the MFDS has invited Nur Wahid, director of Indonesia's official halal certification training institution (IHATEC), to lead the seminar and training sessions.

The expert seminar will focus on sharing the latest global and Indonesian halal market trends, along with a regulatory roadmap. Participants will also gain insights into operational best practices for the halal product assurance system (SJPH) and quality management strategies necessary for certification acquisition.

The training will be divided into two tracks: practical training for operators and management courses. The operators’ track will cover the procedures and requirements for halal product certification, while the management track will focus on the systematization and operation of halal quality standards. Certificates will be issued upon course completion, with future specialized consulting support on halal cosmetics certification provided to graduates.

Furthermore, participating companies will have the opportunity to submit preliminary queries, which will be addressed on-site by halal certification experts from Indonesia, fostering a supportive environment for enterprises facing challenges related to certification.

According to Ahn Young-jin, Director of the Bio-Pharmaceutical Division, “Halal certification is a crucial competitive advantage for domestic cosmetic companies looking to enter Islamic markets.” He emphasized that the MFDS will continue to expand support for certification acquisition and provide regulatory information for various countries to facilitate smoother global market entries.