Indonesia: Halal certification mandatory for drugs, cosmetics, consumer goods

Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo: https://en.tempo.co/)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated that halal certification has been made mandatory for medicine, cosmetics, and consumer goods products starting on October 17 as stipulated in a regulation of the government on pertaining to the implementation of halal product insurance.

This regulation is part of a plan to issue halal certification to 15,000 micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSEs) this year through the Free Halal Certification Programme for MSEs.

The granting of halal certification aims to facilitate MSEs’ exports and help them improve competitiveness, and ensure that their products comply with Islamic law and production standards, Minister Yaqut said.

The product coverage in halal product insurance is very wide, including foods, beverages, drugs, cosmetics, chemical products, biological products, genetically-modified products, and consumer goods.

Head of the ministry’s Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) Muhammad Aqil Irham said that the halal-certified mandatory for products will be conducted in two stages.

The first stage comprises food and beverage products, raw materials, food additives, and auxiliary materials for food and beverage products, and results of the slaughtered and slaughtering services.

The second phase encompasses various types of products, from traditional medicine, health supplement, free drugs, to consumer goods./. 

VNA