Five Notes for Indonesian Halal Center: IHW

Jakarta, MINA – Executive Director of Indonesia Halal Watch (IHW) Ikhsan Abdullah appreciated the idea of the Ministry of Religion to build a Halal Center.

The Halal center was built to encourage the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) function.

According to Ikhsan, there are five records that need to be criticized. Because the existence of BPJPH still has a big question related to the establishment of halal service centers.

First, BPJPH’s existence from this juridical aspect is very critical, because it should have been launched after the UUJPH Implementation. Thus, the establishment of BPJPH is clearly as the basis of operational.

“What is the basis of BPJPH’s operations? Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Guaranteed Halal Products is true, but in the provision, it is very clearly stated that the existence of BPJPH will be regulated through the implementing of regulations,” Ikhsan said, as reported by Republika Online.

Second, to become a Halal Guarantee System Organizing Agency, it definitely requires an adequate budget.

“It requires a huge budget and where are the funds coming from? While, the budget system, must be clear,” Ikhsan said.

Third, until now, there are still two Decrees of the Minister of Religion (KMA) given to the MUI as the basis for implementation and MUI as well as the Halal Certification Agency in Indonesia.

“The implementation is carried out through the LPPOM MUI. Both of these Decrees of the Minister of Religion are still valid today because they have never been revoked,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PP Halal Guaranteed Law has not been issued, so when the two Ministerial Decrees have not been revoked, LPPOM MUI will continue to be a Halal Inspection Agency and Halal Certification Agency in Indonesia.

The fourth note, BPJPH will not be able to function even though there has been a PP considering that to become a Halal Product Certification Body. BPJPH must be able to creat a Halal Inspection Agency.

And the fifth note is regarding the registration system, halal standards and tariffs, which up to day are not ready, so it is very difficult for BPJPH to work in October this year.

“It is not to mention the collaboration with MUI regarding the issuance of fatwa on halal products which until now has not been carried out in the form of a cooperation agreement. One thing is very problematic and this should be the main agenda,” he said. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)