An Exploration of Halal Requirements and the Response to Them in German Chemical-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector

Rutkowski, Rafael (2025) An Exploration of Halal Requirements and the Response to Them in German Chemical-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector. DBA thesis, University of Worcester.

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Abstract

The Islamic economy, and in particular the halal market for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, continues to experience dynamic global growth, offering significant long-term potential for the German chemical-pharmaceutical sector. Access to this market requires not only compliance with technical standards, but also a nuanced understanding of religious, cultural, and regulatory requirements.
This dissertation systematically investigates the foundations, challenges, and practical implications of halal certification in this regulated industrial sector. Drawing on a comprehensive international comparison, five benchmark countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates—were identified as reference systems with the strictest and most systematised halal certification frameworks. These served as the empirical basis for the development of a structured halal checklist, which supports companies in the transparent and standardised implementation of halal certified processes.
To address the research objectives, three core research questions were posed:
1. What are the religious, cultural, and regulatory requirements for halal certification of chemical and pharmaceutical goods?
2. What are the key challenges and opportunities for the German chemical-pharmaceutical sector in aligning with the requirements of the halal market?
3. What systematic guidelines can be developed to help the German chemical pharmaceutical manufacturing sector successfully tap into the potential of the halal market?
A mixed-methods design, rooted in a pragmatic research paradigm, was applied. Qualitative in-depth interviews served as the primary data collection method, offering rich insights into the complexities of halal certification. These findings were complemented by a quantitative internet questionnaire to validate the qualitative results. The triangulation of these data sources enabled a comprehensive and methodologically coherent analysis, ensuring both empirical depth and sectoral applicability.
The findings demonstrate that halal certification extends beyond technical conformity and is embedded in a broader socio-religious and economic context. It is understood by both consumers and regulators as a marker of trust, ethical production, and religious legitimacy. The study’s core output—a five-step implementation guideline, operationalised through a category-based halal checklist—provides companies with a structured and audit-compatible approach for integrating halal certification into existing quality and governance systems.
The five thematic pillars of the guideline include: (1) raw materials and ingredients, (2) logistics and warehousing, (3) manufacturing and processing, (4) audits and documentation, and (5) GMOs and enzymes. These are grounded in the strictest halal requirements observed internationally and translated into a sector-specific implementation approach. In addition, the study recommends engaging with specialised halal service providers to support regulatory alignment and process integration.
In conclusion, this research offers a theoretically grounded and practically validated contribution to the discourse on halal governance in industrial settings. By linking Islamic legal requirements with operational management tools, it delivers a robust framework for companies seeking both compliance and strategic differentiation in global halal markets.

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