LPPOM NTT held the 1446H Syawal Festival to strengthen the halal ecosystem from upstream, which focused on education and facilitation of BPJPH halal certification for meat grinding businesses.
Previously, facilitation was carried out for several MSME actors in the Labuan Bajo area. This commitment is to support MSME actors in being more competitive and fulfilling mandatory halal certification regulations quickly and easily.
LPPOM of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province reaffirmed its commitment to educating the public about the importance of halal products. Through the 1446 Hijriah Syawal Festival entitled “Strengthening from Upstream through Halal Meat Grinding”, LPPOM NTT held socialization with meat grinding service business actors on April 22, 2025, at the NTT Provincial MUI Office.
Director of LPPOM NTT Province, Dr. H. Khalid K. Moenardy, M.Si, emphasized that product cleanliness does not automatically guarantee its halalness. He explained that LPPOM was formed based on the government’s request to conduct a halal audit of all consumer products and public use.
“Previously, halal certification was carried out voluntarily. Since 2019, precisely after the Halal Product Assurance Act (UU JPH) was enacted, all products circulating in Indonesia must be halal certified, except for products that are not halal,” he added.
Khalid reminded that halal certification should be viewed as a long-term investment, not a burden, especially for the micro and small culinary industry, such as noodle and meatball traders, which are vital to the national economy.
In this context, Khalid cited data from the Chairman of the Noodle and Meatball Traders Association (APMISO), Drs. Lasiman stated that only around 1.5 per cent of meatball traders have halal certification. Ironically, around 70% of the beef circulating in the market is absorbed by meatball traders.
Unfortunately, the limited halal-certified meat grinding facilities are one of the main obstacles. The absence of these facilities makes the certification process long, complicated, and expensive, thus hindering small traders from complying with regulations.
“This needs serious attention so that the government’s efforts to guarantee the halalness of products do not actually suppress the sustainability of MSEs in the culinary sector,” said Khalid.
Through this year’s Syawal Festival, LPPOM NTT focuses on facilitating halal certification for micro and small business actors (MSEs) in the grinding service sector. This is a real form of LPPOM’s support for the government’s efforts to increase national halal product production.
“The purpose of this activity is as a form of LPPOM’s concern for MSMEs to increase competitiveness and added value of products,” said Khalid.
Furthermore, this activity is also a momentum for LPPOM to build a positive image and emphasize its position as a professional and credible Halal Inspection Body (LPH) through various community activities that touch the MSME sector.
Meanwhile, to strengthen relations with various stakeholders, LPPOM continues to foster relationships, creating positive networks supporting the halal certification program. Not only that, LPPOM is committed to providing halal milling facilities in all provinces, involving regulators as the driving force of change.
Last year (2024), the peak event of the Syawal Festival was held in Labuan Bajo with a focus on facilitating halal certification for 744 MSEs in the culinary sector spread throughout Indonesia, especially in five Super Priority Destinations (DSP), namely Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Likupang in North Sulawesi.
At that moment, the Muslim-Friendly Culinary Area was also ratified in Kampung Ujung, Labuan Bajo. Of the total 42 MSEs that received facilitation in Labuan Bajo, 30 MSEs are in the Kampung Ujung area. This is an essential milestone in advancing a Sharia-based economy and ensuring the halal, safety, and health of products circulating in this area.
The existence of the Muslim-Friendly Culinary Area not only creates a conducive environment for sustainable economic growth. This event assures the public of halal, safe and healthy products. Thus, Indonesian tourism can accommodate the demands of various tourists, including Muslim tourists.
“This series of themes shows that LPPOM NTT is always at the forefront in responding to strategic issues among Muslim consumers,” concluded Khalid.
The LPPOM NTT Syawal Festival is not just a ceremonial event. This is a concrete step to strengthen the ecosystem from upstream to downstream, expand access to halal certification for MSMEs, and support inclusive halal economic growth in Indonesia. (***)
