What Is INCI? Halal INCI Compliance Guide for Cosmetic Brands

INCI is the universal naming system used worldwide to identify cosmetic ingredients on product labels, ensuring transparency, safety, and legal compliance. 

For major cosmetic and personal care brands targeting Muslim consumers or exporting to markets like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, or Indonesia, it carries even more weight as INCI names are the foundation of halal certification and verification.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

A. Why understanding halal INCI compliance is essential

B. What INCI is

C. How it’s used in cosmetic regulations around the world

The International Nomenclature Committee (INC) is responsible for assigning these ingredient names, which are then published by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (also available online as wINCI).

In simpler terms, if you’ve ever flipped a cosmetic product around and stared at the ingredients list, you’ve already interacted with INCI. 

INCI isn’t just a voluntary industry tool, it’s a significant element in cosmetic regulations worldwide:

• European Union: Under Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, all cosmetic ingredients must be listed using the Commission’s official glossary, which is heavily based on internationally recognized nomenclature systems like INCI. If you’re working with EU compliance, the CosIng database is your go-to resource for checking ingredient names and status.
  
• United States: The FDA requires that cosmetic labels clearly declare their ingredients. While it doesn’t mandate INCI outright, the agency recognizes “established names,” and INCI has become the de facto standard for consistency, consumer transparency, and regulatory alignment.

Halal + INCI: How They Connect

Essentially, INCI tells you what to call an ingredient and halal standards tell you what you may use and how to prove it. Here’s a summary:

Standard / Authority	What It Covers	How It Connects to INCI	Key Action for Brands
OIC/SMIIC Halal Cosmetics – General Requirements	Core halal framework followed by many OIC member states, outlining what ingredients are permissible and how to verify them.	INCI gives you the name of the ingredient; SMIIC defines whether that ingredient is halal-compliant and how to prove it.	Always match each INCI name with halal documentation (e.g., origin certificates, slaughter statements, processing records).
GSO 1943 (GCC / UAE / KSA)	General safety, labeling, and packaging standards for cosmetics in the Gulf. Updated 2024 version references ingredient compliance lists.	INCI names are required for ingredient declarations, and they must align with the positive/negative ingredient lists used under GSO.	Use INCI consistently on labels and cross-verify each ingredient with GSO’s permitted materials and halal requirements.
Indonesia (BPJPH)	Requires halal-certified cosmetics to carry the official Indonesian halal label and disclose ingredient status publicly.	INCI terminology ensures your halal file and product label are transparent and traceable for authorities.	Maintain a clear INCI-based ingredient list and submit supporting halal evidence for each item during certification.

How to Read an INCI List

Reading an INCI list is mostly about knowing how to assess risk, regulatory compliance, and documentation requirements behind every single ingredient. Here’s how to do it:

1. Scan for Red Flags Immediately

Before diving deep, do a quick surface check. Look for any terms that might indicate high-risk ingredients. For halal compliance, they might include items such as “gelatin,” “collagen,” “carmine,” “alcohol,” “stearic acid,” or “glycerin” (especially if the source isn’t specified).

2. Match Each INCI Name With Supporting Documentation

For every ingredient listed, there must be a corresponding documentation trail to prove its halal status. Your evidence pack should include:

• Certificate of origin to verify source.
  
• Technical specifications and MSDS for detailing composition and potential contaminants.
  
• Change-control notifications so you’re alerted if the ingredient’s source or process changes over time.

3. Map Ingredients to Market-Specific Regulations

Finally, cross-reference each INCI name with the regulations of your target markets:

• EU: Check the CosIng database to ensure ingredient status and permissible usage levels.
  
• Middle East: Verify compliance with GSO 1943 for labeling, safety, and ingredient restrictions.
  
• Southeast Asia (Indonesia/Malaysia/Singapore, etc): Ensure INCI terminology matches your BPJPH, JAKIM, MUIS halal file and label submission to avoid delays or rejections.

The AHF Halal INCI Compliance Method (5 Steps)

The American Halal Foundation is the leading authority in halal cosmetics, supported by its extensive list of publications, international accreditations, and partnerships with leading cosmetic stakeholders such as the Personal Care Products Council.

Here’s the 5-step halal compliance matrix developed by the head of cosmetics at AHF: 

Step 1) Ingredient Census (INCI-first).

Export your full INCI list (all SKUs). Normalize names against wINCI/CosIng; flag synonyms and trade names. Here’s the PCPC source to acquire the information. 

Step 2) Source & Process Verification

For each INCI: 

• origin (botanical/synthetic/animal)
• manufacturing route
• processing aids
• carry-over solvents
• denaturants
• enzymes
• change-control

Step 3) Halal Risk Scoring

For halal INCI compliance, score High / Medium / Low based on origin ambiguity, animal contact, ethanol use, or complex supply chains; set documentation requirements per tier.

Step 4) Market Mapping.

• EU: confirm EU glossary naming; ensure label order/notation. Internal Market & SMEs
  
• Middle East: align label/pack with GSO 1943.
  
• Indonesia/Malaysia: ensure halal logo use + public disclosure rules once certified. Contact an AHF cosmetics expert here to get further guidance.

Step 5) Label & PIF/HPAS Readiness

• Produce compliant INCI ingredient lists (descending order; colorants and ≤1% rules where applicable per market). Check out the FDA requirements here.
  
• Build your halal product assurance file: halal statements, specs, audits, and supplier declarations tied to each INCI line.

Typical Critical Control Points for Halal INCI Compliance

Here’s a brief summary of ingredients that often require deeper halal verification due to their source, processing, or production method:

Category	Examples	Halal Risk / What to Check
Animal-Derived	Cera Alba (beeswax, usually halal with controls), Cera Flava, Carmine/CI 75470, Collagen, Elastin, Gelatin, Lanolin, Musk, Placental extract	Confirm source and slaughter status (if applicable); many are non-halal if from porcine or non-halal-slaughtered animals.
Alcohols & Solvents	Ethanol/Alcohol, Tinctures, Fermentation by-products	Assess source (synthetic vs. fermentation), denaturants, intended function, and residual levels.
Enzymes & Ferments	Enzymes, cultures, ferments	Verify growth media (no porcine/ruminant peptones) and defoamers used in production.
Processing Aids	Glycerin, emulsifiers, fatty acids	Trace source and supply chain — must be plant-based or synthetic with documented halal traceability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Is INCI the same as a halal approval?

No. INCI is just the standardized name you print on labels. Halal compliance depends on the ingredient’s source, process, and documentation (e.g., animal derivatives, ethanol carriers, enzymes, media). Use INCI for clarity on pack; use a halal dossier to prove acceptability behind the scenes.

2) How should I handle ethanol (“Alcohol”) on labels for halal markets?

Disclose the INCI correctly and document: 

(a) source (synthetic/plant)

(b) function (solvent, preservative, fragrance carrier)

(c) residual levels post-manufacture. 

Where feasible, switch to non-alcohol carriers or low-residual processes. Keep certificates/specs and change-control on file per market requirements.

3) What documentation do I need for animal-linked INCI (e.g., collagen, lanolin, gelatin)?

Provide origin (species), slaughter/processing evidence where relevant, and supply chain traceability (CoO, specs, flow diagrams). If the route is unclear, treat it as high risk, seek alternative sources (synthetic/plant), or reformulate.

4) The fragrance listed as “Parfum” is a black box, how do I ensure it is halal-compliant?

Ask your fragrance house for:

• Full carrier/solvent disclosure (including ethanol/denaturants).
  
• Allergen and IFRA documents, plus a halal suitability statement.
  
• Confirmation of no animal-derived musks or critical processing aids.
  

5) We sell in the U.S., EU, GCC, and Indonesia. Do we need four different labels?

Not necessarily. Build a master INCI list aligned to the EU glossary/INCI naming, then adapt market add-ons. 

6) We’re a private-label brand. What’s the fastest path to halal INCI compliance?

Start with a full INCI census from your manufacturer, then request: supplier specs, origin statements, solvent disclosures, and certificates. AHF will risk-score each INCI (High/Medium/Low) and give you a gap list: swap outs, document pickups, and label edits. Many private-label lines can be cleared with supplier attestations + minor reformulation of 1–2 ingredients.

Speak to a Halal Cosmetics Expert

Speak to a cosmetics halal certification expert to understand halal INCI compliance and certification. 

Here’s what you’ll get in a 30-minute consult:

• A rapid read on your INCI list risks (alcohols, animal derivatives, fragrances).
  
• A prioritized Gap-to-Green plan: document pickups, reformulation options, and label edits.
  
• Market-specific guidance (EU glossary alignment, GCC pack rules, Indonesia halal label readiness).

Get in touch by completing the form below or simply calling the cosmetics division at +1 (630) 759-4981.