INDONESIA – The Halal Product Assurance Agency, Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) in Indonesia, has issued halal certifications to 10 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), gaining support from the Presidential Staff Office (KSP).
The halal certification program for 10 million MSMEs is targeted for those involved in sectors that have low risk in terms of the halal aspect, such as food and beverage, animal slaughter services, food stalls, restaurants, hotel kitchens, food courts in malls, and e-commerce.
Deputy III of KSP Panutan Sulendrakusuma stated that the KSP will help in conducting coordination with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and Ministry of Finance to obtain valid MSMEs’ data.
“The data will complement MSMEs’ data in the BPJPH, as it is easier for banks to provide verification,” he noted when he met with BPJPH Head Muhammad Aqil Irham.
He cited that the data came from the productive aid for micro-enterprises (BPUM), smallholder business credit (KUR), and the ultra-micro credit distribution from the Government Investment Center (PIP).
According to Sulendrakusuma, in 2020 BPUM had data of 12 million micro-businesses and data of 12.8 million of such businesses in 2021. Some 7.3 million business players had received the KUR in 2021.
On the other hand, PIP, which is under the Finance Ministry, also owns data of 1.96 million business players obtained from ultra-micro credit distribution based on the name and address.
Furthermore, Sulendrakusuma explained that KSP supports the BPJPH program since KSP is also involved in monitoring the distribution of BPUM and building a single database of MSMEs in 2021 and 2022 along with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
He added that the issuance of halal certification for 10 million MSME players involved several parties both from the government and non-government sectors.
“We will facilitate meetings in Jakarta and in the regions,” he pointed out.
The Halal Product Assurance Agency has also accepted nine applications from institutions seeking to become halal product assessors to enhance Indonesia’s halal product ecosystem. The nine institutions will support the current three halal product assessor institutions.
They include Bandung Institute of Technology’s Salman Mosque Foundation, Pekanbaru Product Development and Industry Standardization Agency, Hidayatullah Central Executive Board, and Muhammadiyah Halalan Thayyiban Agency.
BPJPH is an agency formed under the auspices of the Ministry of Religion. Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance mandates that Halal products circulating in Indonesia are guaranteed.
Therefore, the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body has the duty and function to guarantee the halalness of products that enter, circulate, and trade in Indonesia.
