Halal Certification Period Extended, Vice President Ma'ruf: MSMEs Have Not Been Educated

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave a press statement after attending the Inauguration of the Regional Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KDEKS) West Sulawesi / DOK ANTARA

Vice President (Vice President) Ma'ruf Amin said the period for fulfilling halal certification for MSME products was extended because many MSME actors were not ready and had not been educated regarding certification obligations. "So many of these MSMEs are not ready, they don't even understand, they haven't been educated. Therefore, if they are forced, they don't get punished later. Because they are not certified, they will be sanctioned," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin after attending the West Sulawesi Regional Economic and Financial Committee (KDEKS) inauguration event, reported by Antara, Wednesday, May 22. Ma'ruf explained, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs extended the fulfillment period of the obligation to ratify halal food and beverage products for micro and small businesses (UMK) until October 2026. Of the target set at 10 million MSMEs, only 4 million MSME entrepreneurs have halal certificates for their merchandise. The Vice President emphasized that this extension of time is not a delay, but a form of relaxation from the government in an effort to provide guidance in the form of education, literacy, and advocacy to MSME owners. Thus, halal certification can be carried out for the next two years. "So they are educated, advocated for what is lacking, what is not yet possible. So, the certification process means being extended until 2026. So it is not postponed, but relaxed. This means that it does not have to be now because it requires guidance, so the flexibility is that," said the Vice President. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs will oversee the obligation of halal certification for MSMEs which has been postponed from October 2024 to 2026, including strengthening the socialization and literacy of business actors related to this policy.

The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs will also coordinate with local governments to validate and strengthen MSME data that require halal certification. With strong literacy related to halal certification, it is hoped that the issues and problems related to this can be resolved in 2026.