Indonesia is competent to be the largest producer of halal industry in the world, as well as the pharmaceutical industry for halal medicines that comply with Islamic law. As the legal statement for halal products in Indonesia, Act No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance (UU JPH) regulates mandatory halal certification for medicinal products, biological products, and medical devices entering, circulating, and being traded in Indonesian territory. However, this has yet to have a significant impact on the growth of the halal pharmaceutical industry. This is because several aspects still hamper the halal pharmaceutical industry.
“There are four things that need to be considered, namely halal regulations, which are still not understood by all business actors, the certification phase-in time is short, the technical rules for marking non-halal products are not yet ready, and the products are not designed from the start as halal products,” explained Halal Partnership and Audit Services Director of LPPOM MUI, Dr. Ir. Muslich, M.Si. in a national seminar entitled “The Role of Pharmacists in Preparing for the 2026 Mandatory Halal Pharmaceutical Industry” which was held some time ago.
Another highlight relates to production facilities that come into contact with pharmaceutical constituents not designed from the start to be pork-free. Raw material suppliers who still need to be ready with the supporting documents required by drug manufacturers and who cannot easily replace materials due to regulations or availability/suitability are obstacles in accelerating halal certification of pharmaceutical products in Indonesia.
However, there are several solutions to overcome this problem, it is necessary to disseminate more intensive halal regulations to all business actors in the supply chain (goods and services), develop a positive list, identify new materials that require fatwa, and increase research and development activities to produce materials and halal products.
Muslich also explained that to support halal pharmaceutical products, it is necessary to have a broader database of halal medicinal ingredients, increase the role of pharmacists as halal supervisors (halal management teams) in companies, and encourage the issuance of technical regulations for marking non-halal products.
If the criteria for halal certification of medicines are met, a fatwa in the form of a halal decree will be issued. Meanwhile, suppose it does not meet the criteria, but there is supporting data, such as an urgent need (hajah syar’iyyah) or a syar’i emergency (dharurah syar’iyyah). In that case, a fatwa on its use will be issued. (ZUL)
