The government certainly understands the real conditions faced by the business players.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry allows business players to spend their product packaging stocks which still use the halal label stipulated by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) before adjusting to the application of Indonesian Halal Label.

Actually, the application of the new halal label has come into effect since March 1, 2022.

"Business actors whose products have received halal certificates prior to the operation of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and still have packaging stocks with halal labels stipulated by MUI are allowed to use up the stocks first," Head of the ministry's BPJPH Aqil Irham informed in a statement received here on Sunday.

However, once the stocks have been used up, the business players must immediately include the new Indonesian Halal Label stipulated by the agency on their product packaging in accordance with the regulations, he said.

The application of the new label has been regulated in the Decree of the BPJPH Head Number 40 of 2022 concerning the Stipulation of Halal Labels as an implementation of the mandate of Article 37 of Law Number 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Guarantee (JPH).

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The government noted that prior to the effective date of the new label application, many business actors still produced their old product packaging with the MUI halal label.

Hence, Irham said that the decision allowing business players to use up the old packaging is a convenience from the government for business actors in the transitional period for halal certification program.

Earlier, halal certification was conducted voluntarily. However, currently, it has become a mandatory program.

"The government certainly understands the conditions faced by the business players. Hence, please create the new product packaging stock according to the provisions," the BPJPH head appealed.

Previously, he said that President Joko Widodo targeted Indonesia to become the international hub for halal industry in 2024.

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Translator: Prisca Violleta, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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