India's first halal cosmetic brand Iba Halal Care launched

Understanding of halal growing immensely in country with dissemination of information and spread of education

Iba Halal Care, India’s first halal cosmetics brand, was launched on Wednesday in Ahmedabad by Ecotrail Personal Care, a company headed by two Jain women.

Announcing the launch of Iba Halal Care, Mauli Teli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ecotrail Personal Care, said, “We are creating an entirely new category of cosmetic products - halal cosmetic products. Halal (meaning ‘lawful’) cosmetic products are entirely hygienic, ethically manufactured products and meant for usage by everyone.”

Stating that understanding of halal is growing immensely in India with dissemination of information and spread of education, Teli claimed, “The products, manufactured at Ecotrail’s manufacturing unit in Sanand, are halal certified. It is ensured stringent standards are maintained at every stage.”

Highlighting that products used in manufacturing cosmetic products are vegetarian and devoid of animal derived ingredients, Grishma Teli, vice-president, research and development, Ecotrail, said, “Source of every ingredient is researched and it is ensured that products are 100% free of non-halal ingredients such as pig fat, other animal derived ingredients, alcohol, chemicals like sulfates and parabens, among others.”

Mauli Teli said that the company is currently focussing only on meeting domestic demand.

"India's personal care market is growing 15-17% year-on-year. Currently, we are only looking at catering to the domestic demand."

Muhamed Meeran, executive director of Halal India, apex body of halal certification, said, "Halal market comprising food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, services, other sectors, is expected to grow from $1.62 trillion in 2012 to $2.47 trillion in 2018. Halal cosmetics sector is currently worth $26 billion and is expected to grow to $39 billion by 2018."

Mureen said that Halal India provides players like Ecotrail a platform to underake domestic and export-oriented trade.

Mauli Teli said that the company plans to expand the network through franchisee stores in cities like Surat, Bharuch and Vadodara in Gujarat and Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow and Kolkata.