31 LPH Forms Association to Help Realize Indonesia as the World's Halal Industry Center

Dream - Efforts to promote halal certification in the country have received support from dozens of Halal Inspection Agencies (LPH). The support is realized through the establishment of the Indonesian Halal Inspection Agency Association (ALPHI), initiated by 31 LPH during the National Assembly (Munas) on Monday, March 13, 2023.

The dozens of LPHs come from state-owned LPHs, LPPOM MUI, Islamic Religious Higher Education LPHs, to private LPHs.

Elvina Agustin Rahayu, the Chairman of ALPHI for the 2023-2025 period, said that ALPHI is present to serve as a forum to bridge and communicate matters related to halal inspection to the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH).

"This means that we are stakeholders in the halal ecosystem, so how to synergize all of that to strengthen the halal ecosystem," said Elvina quoted from the official website of MUI, Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

ALPHI's First Work Program

ALPHI will also serve as a forum for cooperation and solidarity among LPHs in strengthening the halal ecosystem chain in Indonesia. Furthermore, Elvina hopes that ALPHI can support the government's target to become the world's halal industry center by 2024.

In its first year of existence, ALPHI will focus on strengthening the competence and integrity of halal inspectors. Other programs to be designed include strengthening the quantity of halal products and maintaining the quality of audited products.

"Without competence, we may not be able to provide assurance to Muslim consumers, so that is our focus in the first period. Then, coordinating regulations that also support LPHs," she said.

Chairman of MUI's Fatwa Division, Prof. KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh, appreciates the establishment of ALPHI, which is expected to act as MUI's eyes and ears in the halal product inspection process.

"And the results of the inspection are reported and conveyed to MUI as material for discussion and determination of the halal status of the products," he said.

Furthermore, Asrorun hopes that the presence of ALPHI is very important to build agreements, understanding, and discuss various emerging issues to strengthen the function of da'wah, especially in the halal field. (Sah)

More than 38 Thousand Halal Certified Products Since January 2023

Dream - Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest Muslim population. Therefore, halal certification is an important aspect to consider.

The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued 2,171 halal certificates (SH) since January 2023. These halal certificates cover more than 38 thousand products.

"Until today, there have been 2,171 SHs issued. This covers 38,480 products, including Mixue, which obtained its SH on February 16, 2023," said the Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham, Monday, February 20, 2023.

In addition, Aqil welcomes business actors who already have halal certified products to use the Halal Indonesia label on their products.

The Halal Indonesia label is a series consisting of the Halal Indonesia logo accompanied by the Halal certificate number displayed as a unity. This label serves as a marker for products that have passed halal certification.

"For the use of the Halal Indonesia label, please refer to BPJPH Decree No. 40/2022. This regulation can also be downloaded through the SiHalal account of each business actor," explained Aqil.

In the regulation, it is stated that the number displayed on the label is the Halal Certificate number issued by BPJPH.

"This must not be mistaken. Because it is still found that some business actors display the KH number or Halal Determination number on the label," he said.

As for the guidelines for using and downloading the Halal label, it can be accessed through the Certification menu in the SiHalal account.

Furthermore, he also reminded that if business actors only have a KH number, it means that their halal certification process is not yet complete.

"We would like to remind once again, if business actors only have a KH number, it means that their halal certification process is not yet complete. Business actors must have a halal certificate number in order to declare that their certification process is complete," he emphasized.