S.Korea's iNtRON launches halal test kit to target Middle Eastern market

South Korean biotech firm iNtRON Biotechnology Inc. is focusing on the Middle Eastern market with the introduction of its "LiliF Halal Real-time PCR Kit," designed to detect pork DNA at a genetic level in food products.

The company's DR business division, responsible for developing the halal kit, specializes in food inspection, molecular diagnostics products and essential materials.

iNtRON aims to establish a presence in the halal certification market, which caters to one-fifth of the global population. The innovative test kit is designed to identify even trace amounts of pork genes in processed products containing pork by-products, pork oil and gelatin.

Acknowledging the potential for nucleic acids to be damaged during manufacturing processes, such as high-pressure sterilization and chemical reactions from additives, iNtRON has developed key materials capable of detecting nucleic acids at extremely low concentrations. This advancement increases the detection efficiency of pork-specific genes, while the master mix type kit offers ease of use and compatibility with various testing equipment.

"We will expand our market and product supply to Muslim markets requiring halal testing methods, including countries with mandatory halal certification labeling, such as Indonesia," Sul Jae-gu, head of iNtRON's DR business division said.

Founded in 1999, iNtRON produces life science research reagents, infectious disease diagnostic products and bio-pharmaceuticals.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com