Shellac in medicines
This resource on shellac is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). Healthcare professionals may also find this resource useful when supporting people with gathering and understanding information about their medicine(s).
It highlights the issues of shellac use in medicines that you should be aware of. There is also a table to help you understand if shellac is halāl or harām, according to each of the four Sunni schools of thought.
What is shellac?
Shellac is a natural resin. It is derived from the secretions of the female lac insect.1
How shellac is used in medicines
It is used in medicines as a protective coating for tablets and capsules that are sensitive to moisture, light, or air.1
How the use of shellac in medicines affects the Muslim community
The Muslim community needs to be aware that eating insects is harām according to all four Sunni schools. This is because insects are generally considered legally impure (najis). However, substances secreted by insects (e.g., propolis and shellac) are permissible due to the method of secretion and extensive purification.
A key concern is ensuring the removal of insect body parts during processing. The final product remains legally pure (ṭāhir) if insect bodies are removed. However, this information is not always readily available from all manufacturers.
Another key concern is alcohol use in the extraction process. Shellac is often dissolved in ethanol for use in tablet coatings and pharmaceutical capsules. If alcohol evaporates completely, the majority of Islamic scholars consider the final product halāl. Synthetic or non-intoxicating alcohols are generally permitted in processing. For stricter adherence, water-based or halāl-certified extraction methods are preferred. 2 For further information on alcohol see our guide on Ethanol in medicines.
Therefore, it is important to check for halāl-certification to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing. However, it is also important to note that information regarding cross-contamination with harām sources (e.g. pork and alcohol) is not always readily available from manufacturers.
It is important for the Muslim community to:
- Check if your medicine contains shellac
- Check for halāl-certification – to ensure proper purification and alcohol-free processing where possible.
To find out this information, see section on ‘How do I find out if a medicine contains shellac?‘. You may need to directly contact the manufacturer of your medicine for halāl-certification (manufacturers may have limited information). You could also speak to your local pharmacist for advice and support.
Is shellac halāl or harām?
The table below summarises the ruling of shellac according to the four Sunni schools2:
| Ḥanafī | Mālikī | Shāfiʿī | Ḥanbalī | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shellac | ✅Halāl | ✅Halāl | ✅Halāl | ✅Halāl |
| Reasoning | Generally permit their use after purification. Permit use in medicine or beneficial applications. | Generally permit their use after purification. Allow insect by-products if not harmful. | Generally permit their use after purification. Permit use in medicine or beneficial applications. | Generally permit their use after purification. |
In summary, according to the four schools of thought, shellac is considered halāl because it is an exocrine secretion (not from a legally impure (najis) insect body part) making it legally pure (ṭāhir), by analogy with beeswax and silk.
If some minor traces of insect dye remain, it is overlooked under ʿafw (exemption), especially when complete removal is difficult.
If alcohol (used in the extraction process) evaporates completely, the majority of Islamic scholars consider the final product halāl. Synthetic or non-intoxicating alcohols are generally permitted in processing. For further information on alcohol, see our guide on Ethanol in medicines and our guide on Other common synthetic alcohols used in medicines.
How do I find out if a medicine contains shellac?
You can check if a medicine contains shellac using the using the relevant product patient information leaflet (PIL) or summary of product characteristics (SPC) available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website. However, you may need to contact the manufacturer to find out about halāl-certification. You may also find our resource on ‘How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if your medicine contains shellac, speak to your local healthcare professional such as your local pharmacist.
It is important to remember that even if a medicine contains a harām ingredient or excipient, it does not always mean it is prohibited to take. If you find out a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources, then see our guide on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’. The guide includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take a medicine that contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources. It may also help you make informed decisions on the next steps in discussions with your healthcare professional. If you are still not sure if it is permissible to take your medicine, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).
Summary
- All four Sunni schools agree that shellac is legally pure (ṭāhir) and halāl
- Purification removes impurities, and minor residual traces are excused under ʿafw (exemption)
- If alcohol is used in the extraction process, it should fully evaporate to be considered halāl, or an alternative halāl-certified extraction should be used
- Synthetic or non-intoxicating alcohols are generally permitted in processing
- You can check if a medicine you are taking contains shellac using the PIL or SPC. If you are unsure, then speak to your local pharmacist
- If you are unsure if your medicine is permissible to take, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines)
- If you are seeking halāl products, look for halāl-certified products to ensure proper purification and alcohol-free processing (where available and possible) (remember manufacturers may have limited information).