Jakarta (9/3). A lot of homework must be done to fulfil the mandatory requirements for halal food certification by 2024. Data from the Ministry of Economy shows that many of around 46 million food and beverage business actors still need to be halal-certified.
“As business actors, if we miss the deadline (October 17, 2024), we are worried whether there will be immediate sanctions. There has been no other policy from the government. We are worried that there will be games on the field, businesses will be raided or confiscated, factories will be closed, and this is so vile,” said Deputy Chairperson for Foreign Cooperation of GAPMMI, Lena Prawira, in the webinar Preparation for the Processed Food Industry Facing Halal Obligation October 17, 2024, which will be held on March 8 2023.
Lena added it’s not that business actors don’t want to certify halal, but the situation is still challenging. “We expect that there will be a breakthrough from BPJPH and the government so that when this deadline applies, BPJPH can provide halal certificates or assist in the halal certification process for all business actors,” he added.
LPPOM MUI efforts
The most significant task in halal certification is dealing with the small micro business sector, where awareness must be fostered continuously and accompanied wholeheartedly until assisted in fulfilling halal criteria.
“We do it in many ways, opening halal certification introduction sessions online and for free every week. Business actors can come directly to discuss. LPPOM MUI is also actively seeking sponsors from various parties to facilitate halal certification. Besides that, we also have Corporate Social Responsibility funds to facilitate the halal certification and social assistance,” said the Director of Halal Partnership & Halal Audit Service LPPOM MUI, Dr. Ir. Muslich, M.Si.
To meet targets and reduce the number of businesses that still need to be halal certified, LPPOM MUI seeks to cooperate with many parties in facilitating halal certification for MSEs. LPH is also working with the National Sharia Economic and Finance Committee (KNEKS) to create KHAS (Safe and Healthy Halal Culinary) zones which are carried out in many locations.
“We have to gang up on this task because the task is huge. Even though we LPPOM MUI are on the regular (certification) path, we are also helping to push hand in hand the process of self-declaring the certification route,” explained Muslich.
Concluding the webinar, Lena appealed to business people to start preparing for halal certification because mandatory halal regulations are honest and will be faced in 2024. “Let’s start processing and take advantage of all available assistance to support the halal certification process, including the assistance offered. We expect all businesses to improve, and the halal certification process will continue smoothly,” Lena concluded. (NAD)
