Jakarta --- The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has revoked the halal certificate of the Okko Bread product. This revocation is based on the results of investigation by the BPJPH supervisory team which found a number of violations on Halal Product Assurance (JPH) regulations.
"For the violations committed by PT ARF, the producer of Okko bread, BPJPH has imposed administrative sanctions in the form of revocation of the halal certificate with the number ID00210006483580623 effective from August 1, 2024," said Head of BPJPH, Muhammad Aqil Irham, Thursday (1/8/2024).
Furthermore, Aqil said that since the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) released findings on the use of hazardous materials in the form of Sodium Dehydroacetate in Okko bread products through test results on Okko bread samples from production facilities, BPJPH immediately assigned a team to conduct field supervision, request confirmation from the Halal Inspection Institution (LPH) LPPOM, and coordinate with BPOM.
The results of the inspection showed that PT ARF had applied for halal certification through Sihalal on June 27, 2023 in accordance with the existing regulations. At that time, Okko bread used calcium propionate preservatives according to the list of ingredients reported by PT ARF when applying for halal certification at Sihalal. Also, no sodium dehydroacetate was found when the halal auditor inspected the materials and production.
Through supervision of PT ARF's production facilities or factories, BPJPH found non-compliance of the production process with the implementation of the Halal Product Assurance System or SJPH which included findings related to the criteria for commitment and responsibility, use of materials, halal product processes, products, and also monitoring and evaluation. BPJPH also found the inclusion of a halal label on the Roti Bun Rasa Kopi Susu product which was not registered as a product variant in the halal certificate number ID00210006483580623.
"From the results of the supervision findings at the PT ARF production facility, there were findings of violations of the provisions of Government Regulation (PP) Number 39 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of the Halal Product Assurance Sector, articles 65, 84 and 87." Aqil continued.
"As stipulated in PP Number 39 of 2021, article 149, for these violations, business actors are subject to administrative sanctions in the form of revocation of the halal certificate and withdrawal of goods from circulation." Aqil emphasized.
This incident, continued Aqil, also proves the importance of awareness, commitment, and responsibility of business actors in fulfilling the SJPH criteria. Aqil also appealed to business actors to comply with all applicable JPH regulatory provisions. Because, halal certification is not just a mechanism to fulfill administrative obligations, but rather a form of business actors' commitment to regulations that must be obeyed and must be legally accounted for.
"It must be remembered that a halal certificate is not merely an administrative status, but a standard that must be applied consistently, so that the product is truly maintained as halal continuously." he said.
Furthermore, Aqil also invited active community participation in JPH supervision. According to him, community participation in JPH supervision is not only guaranteed by law, but also very much needed. This is because the implementation of JPH has a very broad scope, involves many actors, and with a product circulation coverage consisting of very many types and variants.
In accordance with the provisions of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance Article 53, the community can play a role in the implementation of JPH. The community's participation can be in the form of participating in socialization regarding JPH, and supervising halal products and products in circulation. Community participation in the form of supervision of halal products and products in circulation is in the form of reports to BPJPH.