Banyuwangi (BPJPH) ---- At least 5,150 micro and small enterprises or MSEs (UMK) in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, have received halal certificates from the Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Body (BPJPH) of the Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Head of the Center for Halal Cooperation and Standardization of BPJPH, Abdul Syakur, said that this achievement should be an example for other regions in Indonesia in making the halal certification acceleration program run by the government a success.
"In Banyuwangi there are already thousands of MSEs who are halal certified (through the self-declare scheme). This could be a pilot area in Indonesia, in accelerating halal certification." said Abdul Syakur in Banyuwangi, during the socialization activity for the Acceleration of 1000 Halal Certificates for MSEs, in Banyuwangi, Saturday (19/8/2023).
Syakur said that the government's program to accelerate halal certification continues to be rolled out throughout Indonesia. This includes especially MSEs, who are very large in number and spread throughout the regions. For this reason, collaborative efforts between various relevant stakeholders are needed to oversee these efforts.
The halal certification socialization activity held by BPJPH together with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and the Banyuwangi Regional Government is also intended to encourage more MSEs in Banyuwangi to obtain convenience in implementing halal certification through assistance with the Halal Product Process (PPH) assistants.
"Today's activity is to assist MSEs in obtaining halal certification. "Because next year, starting in October, all food and beverage products traded in Indonesia must be labeled halal," explained Syakur.
"And the halal certification process is free, there is no charge." he said.
Previously, the Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, said that the Regional Government really appreciated the efforts of BPJPH in accelerating the halal certification program.
"Thank you to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, especially the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH), for its support in the process of issuing halal certificates for micro business actors in Banyuwangi." said Ipuk.
"For halal certification in Banyuwangi Regency up to now, 7,761 MSEs have been registered and 5,150 have received certificates with assistance from various assistance institutions such as UIN HAS, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, UNPRI and so on. Also, Teman Usaha Rakyat (Friends of People's Business/TUR) which is spread across 25 sub-districts and ready to support the Sehati program (Free Halal certification)." she continued.
Ipuk also said that collaboration and joint commitment are important in realizing halal products. Thus, accelerating halal certification is an important step in maintaining the welfare of the people and maintaining the dignity of the Indonesian food industry.
"So today's activities are part of a strong mine that is increasingly raising the spirit of Banyuwangi Rebound in all sectors after facing paralysis in the economic and health sectors after the Covid-19 pandemic." she continued.
Likewise, Assistant Deputy for Protection and Ease of Micro Business at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Muhammad Firdaus, said that the halal certification acceleration program is a program whose benefits are felt directly by the community. So, this program needs to be supported by all parties collaboratively.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Banyuwangi Regency Micro Business Cooperatives and Trade Service, Nanin Oktaviantie, said that in one day during this activity, there were at least 1,000 business actors who submitted and registered in the Sihalal system submitting applications for self-declared halal certificates.
"For business actors who have not yet registered, we will open registration every week via the link provided by the Banyuwangi UMP Diskop," she said.
For your information, the requirements for obtaining self-declared halal certification are quite easy. Among other things, the product is not risky or uses ingredients that have been confirmed to be halal. MSEs have annual sales of less than IDR 500 million as proven by an independent statement, KTP and having a Business Identification Number (NIB).
"Even if you don't have an NIB yet, you will be accompanied in making it by the assistants." Nanin added. []