The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia has recently clarified that not all products or ingredients selling in Indonesia must be certified halal.
The BPJPH issued Minister of Religion Decree Number 1360 of 2021 on Materials Exempted from the Obligation of Halal Certification. This regulation is intended to provide guidance on materials that are not required to be halal certified.
The ministry stipulates 3 categories of materials that are exempt from the obligation to be certified halal, with the 1st category being materials coming from nature without undergoing processing. These include materials derived from plants or from the sea like fish, fresh seaweed and many other seafood products. In addition, fresh fruits, fresh and dried vegetables, cereals, tubers, nuts, corn rice, dried grated coconut, pure coconut, fresh milk and fresh eggs are excluded from the halal requirement.
The 2nd category are materials categorized as having no risk of containing prohibited substances that comprise materials other than those originating from nature as well as materials and chemical products resulting from mining or the results of inorganic and organic synthesis. The 3rd category is materials that are not classified as dangerous and do not come into contact with non-halal material.
The complete list of ingredients excluded from the obligation to be certified halal can be found on halal.go.id.
