Lebak Regency Government Requires MSME Actors To Have Halal Certification

Lebak Regency MSME Products, Banten must have halal certification in order to increase income turnover and open a wide market and attract Muslim and non-Muslim consumers.ANTARA/Mansyur

LEBAK - The Government of Lebak Regency, Banten, requires the products of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the area to have halal certification issued by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). "Until now, there are 150 business actors who have received halal certification from MSMEs," said Head of MSMEs for the Lebak Regency Cooperatives and SMEs Office, Juli Zakiah, when confirmed in Rangkasbitung, Lebak, Antara, Sunday, June 9. The Lebak Regency Government is now optimizing the halal certification program, because it is important to increase income turnover for MSME players. Halal-certified products are confirmed to have the same confidence as many consumer enthusiasts from Muslims and non-Muslims and can open up wider market opportunities for MSMEs. The Lebak Regency Government this year allocated a halal certification program for 35 MSME actors as well as assistance from the Ministry of Religion. Therefore, his party asked the central, regional, provincial and ministry governments to help the halal certification program for MSME actors. So far, his party has facilitated free halal certification through the Ministry of Religion's BPJPH as well as assistance from the local APBD, such as last year's 40 MSME actors. "We are targeting 72,888 MSMEs in this area. In the future, all of them can have halal certification," he explained. According to him, MSME products in Lebak Regency grow and develop by producing various types of snacks such as ant sugar, printed sugar, emping crackers, fish abon, ginger laber, banana sale, banana chips and traditional culinary delights. Even MSME products that have halal certification are accommodated in supermarket stores. "All MSME products that enter supermarkets must be listed halal certification," Juli added. According to him, the Lebak Regency government, apart from providing free halal certification, also provides guidance and training to improve human resources (HR). In addition, it also helps improve packaging to make it more attractive, install barcodes, brands, have IRT from the Health Office and BPOM until the expiration date. "We are gradually providing assistance to business actors so that MSME products can compete in the wider market," he explained. Meanwhile, a number of MSME actors admitted that they felt relieved because it was facilitated to obtain halal certification so that they could be marketing more broadly and could be accommodated in minimarket stores.

"We produce cassava chips, bananas and faria with 100 percent raw materials using halal raw materials from natural products," said Beni (50), a UMKM actor, a resident of Lebak Regency.