31 years ago, on January 6, 1989, The Assessment Institute for Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI) was born based on the mandate of the Government/state to MUI’s actively alleviating cases of lard in Indonesia.
LPPOM MUI provides solution for Muslim consumers in Indonesia. The reason is, there is already a professional and trustworthy institution to carry out product inspection and halal certification. Even so, the halal certification process is still carried out voluntarily.
Then, in October 2014, Act Number 33 of 2014 concerning the Halal Product Assurance Act (JPH) was enacted by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI). This law requires all products being produced, sold, and circulated in Indonesia to be halal certified.
For the running of JPH, the regulation is needed. Among them: Government Regulation Number 31 of 2019 concerning Implementation Regulations of Act Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance Act. Besides, the Decree of the Minister of Religion Number 982 of 2019 was also issued.
The three regulatory policies explain the powers, duties, and obligations of each stakeholder based on the JPH Act. There are at least three stakeholders interrelated in the halal industry in Indonesia, namely the Government, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI), and the Halal Inspection Body (LPH).
First, the Government through the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) is authorized to register applications for halal certification and issue halal certificates. Also, the JPH Act also explains that BPJPH must socialize, educate, and publish halal products which are also the obligations of BPJPH. Second, MUI which is a forum for deliberation by Muslim scholars, zuama, and Muslim intellectuals. The collaboration between BPJPH and MUI is carried out to meet halal auditor certification, determination of product halal fatwas, and LPH accreditation.
In determining the fatwa, the halal decision for the product is determined by MUI during the MUI Fatwa Commission session. The results are then submitted to BPJPH to become the foundation for issuing halal certificates.
Third, Halal Inspection Body (LPH) is an institution that has the authority to carry out inspection and / or testing activities for the halalness of a product. Every LPH is required to have at least 3 halal auditors who can check the halalness of the product.
Halal auditors are tasked with checking and reviewing materials; processing; slaughtering system; researching equipment, production rooms, and storage; distribution checking and presentation; checking the Halal Assurance System; as well as reporting the results of the inspection and / or testing to Halal Inspection Body (LPH). As of August 2020, LPPOM MUI has more than 1,000 halal auditors from various educational backgrounds: food technology, chemistry, biochemistry, industrial technology, biology, pharmaceuticals.
As for the profession of halal auditors, LPPOM MUI comes from professionals and academics who have experience and are scattered in various places. Both at the central LPPOM MUI, as well as in 38 representative offices consisting of 34 provinces in Indonesia and 4 offices in China, Korea, and Taiwan. More than 124 auditors have a Halal Auditor Professional Work Competency Certificate from National Professional Certification (BNSP).
The three stakeholders above are responsible for certification services for business actors in Indonesia. According to the JPH Act, a Business Actor is an individual or business entity in the form of a legal entity or non-legal entity that carries out business activities in the territory of Indonesia. Business actors are obliged to implement and maintain consistency in the implementation of the halal guarantee system so that continuesly running well.
Therefore, every company must have a halal supervisor, or a person who is responsible for the production process of halal products. A halal supervisor has to supervise and coordinate the production process in the company; determine corrective and preventive actions; as well as accompanying the halal auditor during the examination. (YN)
Source:
- The Act No. 33 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance Act (JPH Act)
- Government Regulation Number 31 of 2019
- Decree of the Minister of Religion (KMA) Number 982 of 2019 concerning Halal Certification Service
