Jakarta (BPJPH) --- The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Saudi Food Drug Authority (SFDA) have just held a meeting to discuss the finalization of the MoU on Halal Product Assurance (JPH) cooperation between the two institutions. This discussion was held at a meeting between BPJPH and SFDA at the SFDA Office in Riyadh, last Monday.

"BPJPH and SFDA have just held a meeting in Riyadh to follow up on the planned MoU on Halal Product Assurance cooperation between BPJPH and SFDA, of which the process has started last year." said Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham upon arrival in Jakarta after returning from a working visit to Saudi Arabia, Monday (2/10/2023).

"This meeting is important to encourage the acceleration of the realization of cooperation which has now reached the stage of finalizing the draft of MoU between BPJPH and SFDA. It is hoped that the MoU on cooperation can be signed to coincide with the working visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 19 October 2023." Aqil added.

Furthermore, Aqil said that it is hoped that future collaboration between BPJPH and SFDA will enable a number of important efforts to be made to improve the quality of JPH implementation. These include the exchange of information and experience in improving the quality of the Halal Product Assurance System, as well as efforts to strengthen and develop the industrial ecosystem and halal products.

In line with these efforts, currently the SFDA itself has followed up on the Diplomatic Note that was previously sent by the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, and has finalized the draft MoU in coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh. Currently, SFDA is also trying to encourage the draft of MoU on JPH cooperation which is currently being submitted to the Royal Court to receive immediate approval. Moreover, the cooperation plan has also received support from the Ministry of Trade of Saudi Arabia.

"The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia has been around for a long time and is strong in various fields. With the synergy of guaranteeing halal products between BPJPH and SFDA it will certainly have a big positive influence on the halal ecosystem of each country, as well as strengthening the role of halal products from both countries in global halal ecosystem." he concluded. []