Kuala Lumpur – October 12, 2026 -- ASEAN Records has recognised Malaysia's ECO Bee Biotech Sdn Bhd for the first alcohol-free Halal Kelulut Golden Propolis extract made with Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), a product developed with three Malaysian universities and honoured on innovation platforms in Malaysia, Canada and Croatia.
ECO Bee Biotech built its SFE process with three universities between 2017 and 2021
The company began exploring SFE green technology for Kelulut propolis in 2016. It then partnered with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2017, Monash University Malaysia in 2019 and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in 2021. In 2018, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) granted the company Pioneer Status, which supported further development and commercialisation of the technology.
Awards from Malaysia, Canada and Croatia back the extract
The product won Gold at PECIPTA 2019, Gold and a Top 10 Best Invention placing at ICAN Canada 2020, and Gold at Inova Croatia 2020. It also took Silver in the Health & Medical category at ITEX 2022 and won the Islamic Innovation Challenge Grant. The Halal reference is JAKIM.700-2/3/5 074-10/2014.
Founder Cathie Tan targets Hong Kong and Macau after MIHAS 2026 showcase
The ASEAN Records recognition was presented on 28 June 2026, witnessed by Hong Kong celebrity MasterChef Hugo Leung Man To. It was shown again on 24 September 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur during MIHAS 2026, the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase. Founder Cathie Tan received the recognition on both occasions.
Tan said propolis extraction in many markets commonly involves alcohol, while ECO Bee Biotech pursued an alcohol-free route backed by university research. She said "quality starts from the source," beginning at the bee farm and continuing through every production stage.
The company plans to bring more Malaysian bee-based products to Hong Kong, Macau and other markets. It also intends to deepen industry-academia collaboration to develop bee-derived technologies for ASEAN and wider international markets.