International Halal Certification

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

The employees make cookies in the production room of the Nutsafir Lombok business, which is engaged in food processing based on local agricultural grains in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) in Mataram, Thursday (1/7/2021). Businesses engaged in the halal industry face various challenges, from the Lombok earthquake in 2018 to the pandemic in 2020.

As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has great potential to become a major exporter of halal food and beverage and fashion products.

However, until now, Indonesia has only been a market for halal products from other countries. We, therefore, need to take a number of steps to turn the country into a major producer and exporter of halal products. One way is to improve halal certification with international standards.

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On Monday (5/7/2021) and Tuesday (6/7), this daily published a special issue on halal products. The State of Global Islamic Economy Report 2020-2021 has predicted the world\'s consumption of halal food will increase from US$1.17 trillion in 2019 to $1.38 trillion in 2024, while the global spending on Muslim fashion is projected to increase from $277 billion to S$311 billion in the same period. There is a growing trend that non-Muslim countries are also interested in the halal products, because it is not only related to religion, but also cleanliness and safety. The market potential is growing.

However, until now, we have just become the targeted market of various halal products from other countries. Indonesia is not among the top five exporting countries of halal food products to Muslim nations. In fact, our exports of food and beverage products in 2020 was quite high, reaching $31.17 billion or 23.78 percent of the total exports of the non-oil and gas processing industry. The food and beverage industry grows by an average of 8.16 percent a year.

Kompas

Halal Food Exporting and Consumer Countries (billion US dollars). Consumer Countries (Negara Konsumen). Exporting Country (Negara Pengekspor).

Why has Indonesia not yet become a major exporter of halal products? One of the reasons, according to a number of entrepreneurs, is that our halal certification is not fully recognized by the international community. A number of countries apply specific standards according to the policies of their respective authorities. Referring to Islamic sharia, this standard covers both “halal” and “thayyib. “Halal” means that the product does not contain haram elements, starting from the type, origin, method of obtaining, processing to packaging. “Thayyiib” means that the product is good and safe for health, including hygiene, hygiene and environmental friendliness.

Indonesia has an institution called the Halal Certification Agency (BPJP) to handle halal registration, certification and verification. The certification is issued based on the fatwa of the fatwa commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) after reviewing the results of a study by the council’s Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Research Institute (LPPOM). In fact, this process shows a rigorous and accountable stage.

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It is necessary to promote the dissemination of Indonesian halal certification to the international community. We need to build a dialogue about halal standards with other countries, especially those that have not yet recognized our certification. Building networks and communication at the world level, such as the World Halal Forum, is also important and such an effort needs to be further intensified.

At the same time, exports of food and drink and fashion products should be recorded in more detail so that they include the category of halal products. There is an allegation that the export data recording has not yet included halal products

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.