Controversy over Halal Certification of Imported Products: MUI Promotes Equal Treatment for Local Producers

JAKARTA - In the midst of global trade flows, the issue of halal certification is once again a hot topic of discussion. The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Assessment Agency (LPPOM) MUI has explicitly asked the Indonesian Government to implement the principles of justice and equality (equal treatment) regarding halal certification obligations, especially following the trade agreement between Indonesia and the United States (US).

This issue is crucial because it concerns the right of consumers to obtain transparent product information and protection for domestic business actors.

Highlights on Potential Inconsistency of the Rule

Director of the MUI LPPOM, Muti Arintawati, highlighted the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was considered potentially not in line with Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024. In national regulations, cosmetic products, health equipment, and distribution services must have halal certificates, while non-halal products must clearly state the information on the packaging.

MUI is concerned about certain exceptions for products from the Uncle Sam's country, such as:

Certification Exemptions: For certain categories of cosmetics, medical devices, and non-animal food products.

Labeling: There is no obligation to include the statement "not halal" on certain products.

Halal Supervisor: The potential for the absence of the obligation for halal supervisors (supervisors) in the company.

"This condition can trigger an imbalance in competition. Local producers must follow strict rules, while others get exemptions. This is also at risk of being sued at the WTO level because it is considered discriminatory," explained Muti.

Government Clarification: "All Still Mandatory Halal"

Responding to these concerns, the Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya gave a firm clarification. He stated that information regarding US products that can roam freely without halal certification is not true.

"Products that are required to be certified must still include official halal labels, whether issued by institutions in the US or authorities in Indonesia," said Teddy.

Some of the important points from the government include:

Mandatory Labeling: Food and beverage products are still required to have halal certificates in accordance with regulations.

International Institutions: Certificates can be issued by recognized institutions in the US, such as Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO) or the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), which are then mutually recognized.

Become a Smarter Consumer

For people who adopt a halal lifestyle, this regulatory dynamics is a reminder to always be thorough. Ensuring the presence of an official halal logo on packaging - both local and imported products - is a simple but important step in maintaining the convenience of daily consumption.

In the future, synchronization between international agreements and domestic consumer protection regulations is the key to ensuring that local products are not "suffocated" in their own homes, while consumers still get optimal food safety guarantees.