Jakarta (BPJPH) --- Micro and small enterprise or MSE operators said that applying halal certification was easy. Even for MSE, it was free of charge. Edi, an MSE operator producing fruit juice and candied fruit drinks in Tangerang, Banten, said that obtaining halal certification was not as difficult as one might think.
"After participating in Sehati program, I realize that taking care of it (halal certification) was very easy. You don't bring files to the office. Just go online and be assisted by Mrs Ari (Halal Product Process Assistant) here." said Edi, who has been in business for decades in Tangerang, Sunday (11/6/2023).
Peni, an MSE operator who produces banana chips in Tangerang, also said the same thing. He said, taking care of halal certification was very easy. In fact, Peni issued a halal certificate for its products quickly.
"Alhamdulillah, the process was easy. At first I prepared an NIB, then followed the Facilitator's directions to apply for a halal certificate through the Sihalal online application." Peni said.
"The halal certificate is also issued quickly. In about two weeks it has been made." continued Peni who received a BPJPH halal certificate two months ago.
In the same vein, Nurul, an MSE owner from Semarang, Central Java, also said that taking care of halal certification was not as difficult as one might think. Even taking care of it is also free.
"It's easy and free. Whereas before, many were worried that they'd be asked to pay for this and that. Then next year, they'll have to pay again. That's not the case. In fact, the halal certificate is valid forever." Nurul said.
Commenting on the response of a number of MSE players, the Head of the Ministry of Religion's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) confirmed that obtaining halal certification is currently easy and inexpensive. Even UMK players are subject to a tariff of IDR 0, alias free.
"It is true that taking care of halal certification is currently easy. Business actors can register from anywhere through the Ministry of Religion's PUSAKA application or through Sihalal via ptsp.halal.go.id," Aqil explained.
Aqil also confirmed the narrative of MSE actors who said that in order to take care of halal certification, they were not charged a penny or free. This is because the government provides a Free or Healthy Halal Certification program.
"For MSEs, there's no need to worry. This year BPJPH is again providing a quota of one million free halal certificates through the self-declare halal certification scheme." added Aqil.
"Please use this quota that is still available immediately to be utilized by MSE players. The condition is that the product meets the criteria of not being at risk, the ingredients are confirmed to be halal, and the production process is also confirmed to be halal and simple." he continued explaining.
In addition to the self-declare scheme, Aqil added, MSE with products that need to be inspected and/or tested for halalness can also receive facilitation of halal certification financing through the regular scheme. Sources of financing for this facilitation come from the government, local governments, BUMN, BUMD, and so on.
Furthermore, Aqil explained that for regular halal certification rates, BPJPH has also set rates that are cheap and affordable for MSEs. Through the Decree of the Head of BPJPH Number 141 of 2021, the regular halal certification rate for MSE is IDR 650,000. This fee consists of a registration fee and determination of product halalness in the amount of IDR 300,000, and a fee for product halal inspection by the Halal Inspection Agency (LPH) in the amount of IDR 350,000.
"With these tariff provisions, the financing of halal certification becomes clear and transparent." said Aqil emphasized.
Halal Certificate Increases Consumer Trust and Product Sales
The UMK actors also said that after obtaining a halal certificate, consumers became more confident about their products. In fact, the number of product sales has also increased when compared to before the products were certified halal.
"After knowing that the product is halal certified, people are more interested. And there are also more people who buy (the product)." said Edi.
Edi also said that after knowing that his products were halal certified, not a few buyers gave positive responses. They say, products that are certified halal are good and safe products for consumption. It is not surprising then that the number of product sales has increased significantly.
"(Increased) sales are very far from before (before halal certification). So that the omzet has also increased a lot." added Edi, who also markets his products through the online-shop application.
According to Aqil, the testimonies of the MSE actors prove that halal standards are closely related to economic added value. He gave an example, on a broader scale which has a pattern of integrating the economy by forming a free trade system between a number of countries, competition within the trade ecosystem is a standard issue.
"The experiences of these MSE actors at the same time prove that halal standards provide added value economically." said Aqil.
"This is in accordance with the objectives of the Halal Product Assurance (JPH) as stated in Law number 33 of 2014, that apart from providing convenience, security, safety and certainty of the availability of halal products for the community, the assurance of halal products is also intended to increase added value for business actors to produce and sell their products." he continued. []