Gov’t Clarifies Misinformation on Halal Certification for US Products

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya delivers press statement in Washington DC, Saturday (02/21).

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that products from the United States entering the Indonesian market are required to obtain halal certification.

“People say that US products can enter Indonesia without obtaining halal certification? That is misinformation,” Teddy said.

For the record, the Governments continues to ensure that products required to obtain halal certification also comply with Indonesia’s laws and regulations.

“Products that are required to be certified must bear a halal label, whether used by a halal authority in the United States or a halal authority in Indonesia,” he said, adding that halal certification in the United States is issued, among others, by the Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO) and the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), while in Indonesia, it is administered by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH/Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal).

Moreover, cosmetics and medical devices to be marketed in Indonesia are required to obtain a distribution permit from the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

Teddy went on to say that Indonesian and the US halal authorities have signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal certification for bilateral trade.

Under this MRA, halal certificates are mutually recognized, provided they meet the agreed standards and remain in compliance with the Indonesian regulations.

The Government also ensures that trade policies between Indonesia and the United States do not waive the obligation to comply with national standards, including halal requirements and consumer protection regulations.

The Government also urges the public not to be swayed by misinformation and to rely solely on official sources for accurate information.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RAS/EP)