A government representative from the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly has recently appealed to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to maintain their halal commitment and responsibility in accordance with their certification.
He said, “Getting a halal certificate for MSEs is quite easy. The difficult one is (maintaining) the commitment and responsibility for (complying with) the halal certificate.”
He advised MSEs that have obtained halal certificates to not use non-halal ingredients in their products. Even foods that contain toxic ingredients like dyes or formalin are considered as not halal.
Interestingly, in Indonesia, getting the halal certification is very simple. According to the Religious Affairs Ministry’s website, MSE players can apply for halal certification through the self-declaration scheme, meaning they themselves guarantee that their products are halal. Nevertheless, they are still required to provide their business identification numbers (NIB) as well as halal certificates for the ingredients they use while registering on the Halal Information System (SIHALAL).
Their application will be verified by Halal Product Processing (PPH) officers and Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH). The BPJPH opened Free Halal Certification (SEHATI) registration for one million SMEs in 2023.
The spokesperson said that the Indonesian government will make the halal certificate mandatory, starting 17 October 2024.
As the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia’s (Global Islamic Economy indicator on) halal food products is ranked 2nd in the world, just behind Malaysia. Indonesia is striving to be the world’s largest center for halal food products in the near future.
