Ministry Of Religion: Ironic If Indonesia Imports Halal Goods From Muslim Minority Countries

Head of BPJPH Aqil Irham (blue shirt) handed over a Halal Certificate to the leadership of PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) invites local entrepreneurs to immediately apply for halal certification of their goods and services. This is the first step to enter the global halal ecosystem.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Ministry of Religion's Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) Aqil Irham after symbolically handing over a halal certificate to PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia, in Bogor, West Java. The BPJPH halal certificate was received by the founder of PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia, Jodi Brotosuseno.

"We appreciate the efforts of PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia which has certified its products. We invite local entrepreneurs to follow this step. Immediately apply for halal certification of their products," Aqil said, Wednesday, June 8, quoted from the ministry's website.

The submission of halal certification is also a form of compliance by entrepreneurs with the provisions of the law. As is known, Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee (JPH) states that after 2024 all products circulating in Indonesia must be halal certified.

"If (later) there are restaurants, stalls, catering and other services that do not have a halal certificate, then the approach will be different. Namely with a legal approach, "said Aqil.

He said that as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, it would be ironic if Indonesia could not meet the needs of its halal products.

“It is very ironic if we import halal goods and services from a Muslim minority country, this is very ironic. This is a challenge for us together," said Aqil.

"What PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia does can be an example and role model for local food product entrepreneurs who are expected to enliven the halal ecosystem in Indonesia," he added in front of hundreds of employees of PT Waroeng Steak Indonesia. The company led by Jodi Brotosuseno is known to have 114 outlets throughout Indonesia.