BPJPH Affirms Plant And Livestock Products From Genetic Engineering Must Be Halal Certified

Workers lead cattle to be released into the Pasundan Cattle Mini Ranch, Sukamantri, Ciamis Regency, West Java, Monday 7 December 2020). (ANTARA-Adeng Bustomi)

JAKARTA - All biotechnology products must have halal certification. Including those through genetic engineering by producing superior plant or livestock varieties and having high productivity.

This was emphasized by the Coordinator of Halal Certification of the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) Ahmad Sukandar during an activity at a biotechnology product development facility in Malang, East Java, Tuesday, May 23.

"All products that perform genetic engineering must enter halal mandatory," he said, confiscated by Antara, Tuesday, May 23.

He emphasized that the rules are contained in Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee and strengthened by Presidential Regulation Number 6 of 2023 concerning Halal Certification of Drugs, Biological Products, and Medical Devices.

Sukandar explained that the purpose of halal certification for genetic engineering products is so that people who consume the product feel safe, comfortable, and safe.

This, he said, considering that 86.7 percent of Indonesia's population is Muslim.

"Business actors must understand what is the government's policy," said Sukandar.

He said the halal certification registration procedure for genetic engineering products is the same as other product stages. The mechanism of halal certification goes into the regular path.

The difference, he said, lies in the field audit process. The auditors who audit genetic engineering products are special people who have the capacity to test and check directly.

"They conducted tests on the suitability of the product to halal standards, including seeing other factors such as imported components," said Sukandar.

Based on Law Number 6 of 2023, the products that have been audited by the Halal Examining Agency will be held a fatwa trial by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

If the MUI Fatwa Commission does not immediately carry out a fatwa trial within three days, it will be submitted to the Fatwa Committee of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"This Fatwa Committee is all organizations formed by the Minister of Religion, but involves elements from scholars and academics," said Sukandar.