The Impact Of Businesses With Free Halal Certificates: Product Sales Increase

Head of BPJPH M Aqil Irham reviews UMK halal products in Barito Kuala (Photo via Kemenag)

JAKARTA - Halal certificates as added value products are starting to be felt by micro and small business actors (UMK). One of them is felt by UMK actors in Barito Kuala Ernawati Regency.

He admitted that product sales increased after MSE products obtained free halal certificates from the Ministry of Religion's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH).

"The sales of my products have increased compared to before my products were halal-certified," said Ernawati, an MSE producer of various cakes in Barito Kuala, at the MSME House of Barito Kuala Regency, last week quoted from the Ministry of Religion, November 30.

"Alhamdulillah, my products are also selling well. Buyers are also happier after knowing that my products are halal (certified)," said Siti Jauzah, a packaged fried onion entrepreneur from Barito Kuala.

Ernawati and Siti Jauzah are two of twenty MSEs from Barito Kuala who were participants in the 2020 BPJPH Free Halal Certification Facilitation Program. In early 2021, both of them received a halal certificate issued by BPJPH.

"Thank you, it (the free halal certification facilitation program) really helped us," added Ernawati.

The UMK supervisor of the Barito Kuala Regency Cooperative, Industry and Trade Office as well as the manager of the Barito Kuala Integrated Business Service Center (PLUT) MSME House, Maya Savira, confirmed that the two UMK actors were members of his agency.

"UMK actors are very happy because through our collaboration with the Ministry of Religion's Halal Task Force in Banjarmasin, thank God they not only obtained a free halal certificate from BPJPH, but also provided guidance and guidance during halal certification," Maya explained.

Previously, Sobirin, who produces banana chips, also admitted that after being certified halal, his products can now enter several supermarkets and reach a wider marketing network.

"We have entered Indomaret, Alfamart, Brebes, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan districts," said Sobirin, a UMK player from Tegal, Central Java who is also a participant in the 2020 BPJPH halal certification facilitation.

Through facilitation from the government, Sobirin continued, the halal product made from bananas was also given the opportunity to participate in promotions at the Dubai International Expo which was held virtually in February.

"Currently our banana chips products are also being tested by the SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority). We have plans for our products to enter the Middle East market." Sobirin added.

Sobirin admitted that he is very grateful to the government, because the achievement of these products cannot be separated from the government's guidance so far. Starting from the Ministry of Religion (Halal Task Force), the Cooperatives and SMEs Office, the Industry and Trade Office, and also five SOEs.

The acknowledgment of a number of UMK actors is in line with the statement by the Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham who previously said that the government was seriously trying to encourage the development of MSEs to advance class and be highly competitive. One of them is through various facilities in carrying out halal certification obligations.

"The government continues to encourage the strengthening of MSEs players to continue to upgrade and expand marketing networks both export and domestic, one of which is through halal certification," said Aqil Irham.

"Halal certification is also very important because it is a standard, not just a formality to fulfill administrative obligations." said Aqil Irham.

As a standard, continued Aqil Irham, halal certification provides a number of benefits and advantages both for business actors as product producers and for the community as product consumers. Halal certificates are also a tool or tool in providing legal certainty for the halalness of a product.

With the guarantee of legal certainty, the purpose of implementing JPH as stated in Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning JPH is to provide comfort, security, safety, and certainty of the availability of halal products for the public in consuming and using the product.