The need for halal certification is driven by the need to comply with regulations and consumer demands, conveyed by the Halal Partnership and Audit Services Director of LPPOM MUI, Dr. Ir. Muslich, M.Si., in a webinar titled “Halal Logistics: Fulfilling Consumer Expectations and Compliance with Regulations” held by LPPOM MUI on August 3, 2023.
“Indonesia requires halal certification for a broad scope. Meanwhile, in other countries, halal certification is required only if a product wants to be claimed as halal,” explained Muslich.
Act No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee (UU JPH) states that products that enter, circulate, and trade in Indonesian territory must be halal certified. Meanwhile, Law Number 6 of 2023, which is a revision of the JPH Law, defines products as goods and/or services related to food, drink, medicine, cosmetics, chemical products, biological products, genetic engineering products, as well as goods that are used, used, or utilized by the community. It is clearly stated that services are included in mandatory halal certification.
Other important points are listed in the JPH derivative regulations, namely in Government Regulation Number 39 of 2021, concerning implementing the field of Halal Product Assurance. This includes the phasing or grace period for halal certification. The closest phasing for mandatory halal certification is on October 17, 2024, for food and beverage products.
Meanwhile, the 2024 mandatory halal phasing for the food and beverage category is about more than just the final product. All matters covering the production process of the last food and beverage products are also included in this deadline. These include raw materials, additional materials, and auxiliary materials for food and beverages.
In addition, services related to food and beverage must also be halal-certified on October 17, 2024. The services referred to in this case include slaughter services (slaughterhouses/poultry), processing services, storage services, packaging services, distribution services, and sales services. (retailers), as well as serving services (restaurants/cafes/fast food stalls).
“If the halal certification deadline for a product has not been met, there will be sanctions from the government in the form of a written warning, fine, product withdrawal, or a ban on product distribution,” Muslich explained.
This means the need for halal certification is strongly driven by regulations in force in the local country. Businesses must comply with rules if they are to do well. Another solid push for carrying out halal certification comes from consumers.
“It could be that the deadline has not yet expired, but consumers are asking for halal certification to guarantee product halalness. This is the impetus. Of course, the needs of consumers are the most important thing for companies to find solutions,” said Muslich. (YN)
