Brunei issues halal pharmaceutical guidelines

Brunei has produced what are believed to be the world's first halal pharmaceutical guidelines to promote medicine production that conforms to the Muslim religion, a newspaper reported Tuesday. The guidelines were endorsed by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council last week, the Borneo Bulletin said.
Vincent Cheong, the chief executive of the Brunei Economic Development Board, said he hoped the guidelines would put Brunei at the forefront of halal medical and health product manufacturing. Viva Pharmaceutical Inc, a Canadian company, has applied for permission to invest 12 million dollars in Brunei to manufacture and distribute halal-certified medicines, vitamins and nutritional supplements in the region, he said.