Food, Beverages Must be Halal-certified per October 17: Gov't

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An expert staff of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Janedjri M Gaffar, affirmed that food and beverages products must have halal certificates starting October 17. This obligation is in line with the implementation of Law No. 33/2014 on halal product assurance.

“[The two type of products] are mandatory [to have halal certificates] on October 17,” said Janedjri in the Ombudsman Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 17.

Janedjri added that the mandatory halal certification will gradually be valid for other products including cosmetics and service sector, such as animal slaughtering and meat storage.

The Ministry, he claimed, have completed the Ministerial Regulation Draft concerning the implementation of halal products. The draft bill has been canvassed with related stakeholders, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

“Even though it is still a draft, the ministry and the Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) are ready to provide services related to the implementation of halal products assurance on October 17.”

Meanwhile, Ombudsman highlighted several immature plans ahead of the implementation of the law on halal products which was supported by the government through the issuance of a derivative rule, namely Presidential Regulation No. 31/2019.

“BPJPH is required to disseminate the consequences of the implementation of Law No. 33/2014 to the public,” said Ombudsman member Ahmad Suaedy.

CAESAR AKBAR