The virality of drinks with the brands "Tuak", "Beer", and "Wine" has caused a stir. The reason is, these drinks with non-halal connotations have received halal certificates. The Head of the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. H. Muhammad Aqil Irham, M.Si, admitted that there were differences of opinion before his institution issued a decision regarding this matter.

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According to Aqil, a product will go through a long process before it is finally determined as a halal product. Therefore, he emphasized that they dare to be responsible for what has been decided. "The halal certificate issued by BPJPH has guaranteed its halalness. The public does not need to hesitate if it comes from our institution. Because before the certificate is issued, the product has gone through a long process. There is a halal determination hearing from the MUI Fatwa Commission (Indonesian Ulema Council) and the Halal Product Fatwa Committee (Ministry of Religion)," he said.

BPJPH, he continued, is not the sole actor in deciding a product submitted by a business units for halal certification. "The determination of the halalness of this product is not the authority of BPJPH, but rather the MUI Fatwa Commission and the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. In the halal certification process, BPJPH is not the sole actor, there are other parties involved. BPJPH only has administrative authority. There is a Halal Inspection Institution (LPH) which has scientific authority. They conduct audits based on science and technology," said Aqil.

For Aqil, what is viral now is input and criticism from the public. However, he advised influencers to first confirm a product with BPJPH so as not to disturb the public.

What is happening now is about brands. If we are talking about brands, Aqil continued, this is related to efforts to attract consumers, marketing strategies, and increase sales. He leaves it up to consumers whether or not to choose the products offered by business actors.

After food and beverages, Muhammad Aqil Irham continued, based on Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantees, textiles and goods made from animal skin that are used, such as belts, shoes, bags, and so on, must also be certified halal. "We continue to socialize and educate business actors and the public. This is because this is a mandate of the law that we must implement," he said to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto from VOI who visited him at the BPJPH office, Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, recently. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

The public is once again shocked by the news of several beverage brands “Tuak, Beer”, and “Wine” that have received halal certification from BPJPH. Why is that?

We see the viral news about the existence of beverage brands with the names “Tuak, Beer, Wine” emerging as part of public participation. This is criticism, and for us, this criticism is important. However, before making criticisms, it is better to first clarify with BPJPH regarding the truth of the information so that there is no commotion in the community. It is possible that what is conveyed is true, but sometimes it does not match reality.

We need to emphasize that the halal certificate issued by BPJPH is guaranteed to be halal. The public does not need to doubt if the certificate comes from our institution. Because before the certificate is issued, the product has gone through a long process. There is a halal determination hearing from the MUI Fatwa Commission and the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. In these two commissions, the members consist of clerics and academics who hear products submitted by business actors.

So, there is no need to doubt it anymore?

Yes, BPJPH cannot possibly issue a halal certificate without a halal determination from the ulama. What is circulating and viral at the moment is related to the brand. We can understand that the brand is important to attract consumers, marketing strategies, and increase sales. For products that have received halal certification, it is certain that the substances and composition are halal. Regarding strange names, such as rawon setan, sop janda, sop tante girang, beer, wine, tuak, etc., it is better not to submit them. There is already an MUI fatwa prohibiting the use of brand names that lead to pornography, idolatry, or haram, even though the substances and manufacturing process are halal.

In the trial related to several strange names, there were differences of opinion among ulama. Some said it was okay and some said it could be tolerated, so this issue passed the MUI Fatwa Commission and Halal Product Fatwa Committee trials. So, it is not true that the viral product came solely from self-declaration. Some go through regular procedures, both those tried by the MUI Fatwa Commission before the Halal Product Fatwa Committee was formed in March 2023. Before that, self-declaration was tried by the MUI Fatwa Commission. So, in that time period, these strange names emerged.

The public doesn't know, they are laymen. The names tuak, beer, and wine have all contained alcohol. What about this?

The public must know that the basis for the decisions of the scholars is knowledge and religious teachings before deciding. For determining the halalness of a product, that is not the authority of BPJPH, but rather lies with the MUI Fatwa Commission and the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. In the halal certification process, BPJPH is not the sole actor, there are other parties involved. BPJPH only has administrative authority. There is a Halal Inspection Institution (LPH) which has scientific authority. They conduct audits based on science and technology. In addition, there is the MUI Fatwa Commission which has the authority to determine whether the product is halal according to religion.

What about the self-declare procedure in determining the halalness of a product?

For the self-declare method, there are also accompanying institutions and through an audit process carried out by the assistants. Everything refers to the halal standards made by the MUI. This is what the public must know.

So, are all of these viral products self-declared?

Some are self-declared, some are not. What the public criticizes are brands that lead to alcoholic beverages, have haram connotations, or are pornographic.

Our society is still influenced by what goes viral on social media. The public still lacks literacy. What will BPJPH do next?

In the past five years, BPJPH has conducted education, socialization, and publications to increase public literacy, business actors, and other components of society about halal awareness. We are not alone, but also collaborate with universities, Islamic mass organizations, activists, and halal practitioners, as well as accompanying institutions. The message regarding the obligation of halal certification has been conveyed to the public. Now, in the era of social media, we cannot hold back when something goes viral. Everyone can report something via their cellphone which is connected to a social media account. For influencers, if possible, the content should be data-based. For the public, they must remain critical of information conveyed through social media, verify, and filter so as not to fall for hoaxes.

So, for some brands that have gone viral, what is your advice?

We will communicate more intensively with the MUI Fatwa Commission, and we will bring them together with the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. We will review again whether clerics must textbook obey the existing rules, or are allowed to use interpretations of products submitted by the public. This will be the subject of evaluation. For products that have been issued with halal certificates, that's it. Everything is left to the consumer, whether they still want to use them or not.

Regarding halal certificates, entrepreneurs are okay. But what is being questioned is the means of transportation or the production chain leading to the product which must also have a halal certificate. This burdens entrepreneurs. What do you think is the middle way?

We can understand the objections of entrepreneurs. We have also met with related associations. What we need to explain is that what needs to be certified is not the means of transportation, but the service. So, food that has been made and declared halal is not contaminated with anything non-halal. Our focus is more on semi-finished products, such as meat—how to package and transport them to maintain their quality. If the goods are finished and well-packaged, then the means of transport do not need to be certified. The law stipulates that the distribution, storage, and packaging sectors are part of the service sector that is subject to the obligation of halal certification. Later, we will evaluate this sector before there is a revision to the regulation.

For MSMEs, is there any convenience in obtaining halal certification?

Actually, self-declare is an effort to provide convenience to MSME business actors. Through assistance, they are assisted in how to open an account, register, and finally obtain halal certification. For the cost, they are free, facilitated by the government through BPJPH through the Free Halal Certification (Sehati) program. This self-declare is not easy, there are criteria and requirements that have been determined. If the materials used have been checked by the assistant, then taken to the MUI Fatwa Commission and the Halal Product Committee, then their halal status is determined. So, there is no need to go through a complicated audit. This flow is not understood by those who criticize.

There is a famous restaurant that is popular with young people, but has not received halal certification from BPJPH. Are there any sanctions for that?

We have conducted socialization in various places. Even so, we cannot immediately force it. If there are those who have not been certified, maybe they are still waiting. This halal certificate is required by law. If we have waited but it has not been taken care of, then there will be sanctions.

So far, what are the obstacles for entrepreneurs to obtain halal certification?

For foreign restaurants that open here, they really want to have certification and a halal logo displayed in their restaurants. What is still an obstacle is Nusantara cuisine. They think, "Why halal certification? Everything that is produced is already halal." This is what we educate. Because, not all consumers know about it. They need certainty about halalness.

In the future, what else does BPJPH want to achieve?

We want this halal certification to become a shared awareness and become our culture. The trend continues to increase, halal has become a lifestyle for urban communities, millennials, and Gen Z. Halal has become a brand that is quite well-known by the public. There is a lot of appreciation given to BPJPH both at the national and international levels. There are 30 top OKI member companies, 15 of which are from Indonesia that already have halal certificates. Regarding the ripples here and there that make this ship rock, just enjoy it. That is part of the dynamics and criticism that we pay attention to. We are optimistic that we are on the right track.

With a limited budget, we will continue to synergize with BUMN, universities, and Islamic mass organizations. We invite ministries and BUMN to help facilitate free halal certification. Banking has also helped us so far, as well as local governments, Baznas, and other institutions, working together to support this halal certification program.

Not Only a Home Champion, Says Muhammad Aqil Irham: Indonesian Halal Has Reached Other Countries

The Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, according to the Head of BPJPH Dr. H. Muhammad Aqil Irham, M.Si, has indeed played a role in the country. Now, this action is not only recognized by various parties in the country, but the role of BPJPH has also been recognized by the world. Slowly, this institution has penetrated other countries.

Not long ago, BPJPH received an award at the 2024 Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA), which took place in the Maldives. BPJPH won the GIFA Championship Award in the Halal Certification Services category. This award was received directly by the Head of BPJPH at a gala dinner held in the Maldives, an island nation located in South Asia, on September 17, 2024.

"GIFA is headquartered in Cambridge, London, England. The award has been held for the 14th year. The awarding location changes from year to year. It has also been in Indonesia, Senegal, and this year in the Maldives," he said.

Honestly, said Aqil Irham, he did not know what the GIFA criteria were so he chose BPJPH to receive an award in halal certification matters which have been the daily work of his institution. "They saw that halal certification in Indonesia was carried out quite massively. This beat two other countries. But they didn't mention the country," he said.

For Aqil, this award is an encouragement for all BPJPH personnel and all related stakeholders who have been tirelessly running the halal certification program throughout Indonesia. "This is a vitamin for us to do better in the future, and to make the halal ecosystem in Indonesia the center of the world's halal ecosystem," he said.

Halal Fashion in Milan and London

Before receiving the award in the Maldives, Muhammad Aqil Irham participated in the London Fashion Week. After the Maldives, Aqil flew to Milan, one of the centers of the fashion industry in Italy. At the Milan Fashion Week event, there was a signing of cooperation and an assessment of halal institutions in the country.

According to Aqil, Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that Indonesia can become the center of world Muslim fashion. "Therefore, we support the creations of Indonesian designers to appear in international events, especially in countries that are world fashion centers such as Paris, Milan, and London," he said.

So, the work of Indonesian designers is also known to world fashion circles, not only known in their own country. "Our mission is to introduce halal textiles or fabrics. It turns out that this is a new color in the world fashion event," he said.

The second stage of the halal mandate is for cosmetics, medicines, and consumer goods. "The target is until 2026. So there are only two years left to realize this. Now there are many cosmetic and drug manufacturers that already have halal certificates. Textiles, such as cloth, batik, and others have also received halal certification. The shoes I am wearing are also halal,” he said while pointing to the sneakers he was wearing.

Goods must be halal certified if the raw material is animal skin. “For shoes, bags, belts, and so on that are made from leather, they must be halal certified. One day, everything will be halal,” he said.

Halal Certification in the Land of the Rising Sun

The need for halal products for Muslims living in the Land of the Rising Sun is currently a concern. Aqil and Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with Japan. This is related to the distribution of halal products for Muslims living there and the matter of food ingredients that will be exported to Indonesia.

"Because the rules are that every food and beverage product circulating in Indonesia must have a halal certificate to protect consumers. Producers abroad are interested in BPJPH to conduct an assessment," he said.

So far, in Japan there has been one institution that has signed an MRA with BPJPH. "Then there are three that have received accreditation certificates. In the near future, another MRA will be signed with Japan at the third Halal 20 event," he said.

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What is also interesting, continued Muhammad Aqil Irham, is that there is a diaspora in Japan that has taken the initiative to form a halal institution. "What the diaspora is doing there is supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo. It's called HITO, Halal International Trust Organization. So far, halal institutions have mostly been attempted by Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. Now, Indonesians have shown their teeth," he said.

"We need to emphasize that the halal certificate issued by BPJPH has guaranteed its halalness. The public does not need to hesitate if the certificate comes from our institution. Because before the certificate is issued, the process has gone through long stages, including the halal determination hearing from the MUI Fatwa Commission and the Halal Product Fatwa Committee,"