Representatives from 18 embassies of friendly countries in Indonesia participated in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the topic of International Cooperation related to Halal Certification in Indonesia. They are envoys from Australia, China, Denmark, EU, India, UK, Italy, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Norway, France, Singapore, Sweden, Vietnam, New Zealand, Hungary, and Belgium. The FGD was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Religion's Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Special Staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and the National Sharia Finance and Economics Committee (KNEKS). Present as resource persons for the FGD Special Staff of the Indonesian President Diaz Hendropriyono, KNEKS Executive Director Ventje Rahardjo, BPJPH Head Muhammad Aqil Irham, KNEKS Halal Product Industry Director Afdhal Aliasar, and BPJPH Halal Standardization and Cooperation Center Head Siti Aminah.
Presidential Special Staff Diaz Hendropriyono said the international community paid attention to halal regulations, especially regarding the mechanism for recognizing halal certificates and the scope of halal products. The FGDs were held as a means to receive input, gather views, accommodate solutions, and answer questions from the ambassadors. Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham hopes that the FGD will become a medium for discussion and socialization of JPH policies, especially regarding cooperation in halal products. "We express our gratitude to the Presidential Special Staff, Mr. Diaz Hendropriyono, who took the initiative to organize and bridge the BPJPH, KNEKS, and embassies or representatives of friendly countries to gain a deeper and clearer understanding of legal certainty and the implementation of halal product guarantees in Indonesia," said Aqil Irham via teleconference, Friday (4/2/2022). According to him, halal products are currently one of the world's biggest concerns because they have a large and promising market. The industrial landscape and the halal ecosystem have become common, not only in Indonesia but also in the world.

The presence of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee, has brought major changes related to the policy and implementation of Halal Products in Indonesia. Halal certification is now mandatory for most products that enter, circulate, and are traded in Indonesia. This rule also applies to imported products from various countries that enter the Indonesian market. With this condition, BPJPH currently has received high requests and many proposals for cooperation from various countries in the world. “We have signed two MoUs so far, and others are in the process of being finalized and will be signed soon. We also respond to questions and propositions from foreign governments and authorities, business actors, NGOs, and so on,” added Aqil Irham. "We welcome with open arms to work together and discuss Halal policies and regulations in Indonesia," he continued.
Head of the Center for Halal Cooperation and Standardization BPJPH Siti Aminah added that JPH's international cooperation must be based on an agreement between countries, or Government to Government (G to G). "Or, with bilateral agreements between the two governments that have been carried out and are still valid, for example, cooperation in the economic, trade and other fields," said Siti Aminah. This cooperation, said Aminah, must be carried out following Indonesia's foreign policy, the provisions of national laws and regulations, and international law and practice. "Cooperation in the form of mutual recognition of halal certificates is carried out by BPJPH with foreign halal institutions (LHLN) which are authorized to issue halal certificates," continued Siti Aminah.

There are two schemes for the service rules for imported halal products. First, for the end product or finished product category, the halal certification is carried out directly to BPJPH. Halal inspection and/or inspection of the finished product is also carried out by the Indonesian Halal Inspection Agency or LPH. "As for the product category in the form of raw materials, additional materials, auxiliary materials, and slaughtered products, it can be certified halal by the local LHLN that has collaborated with BPJPH based on agreements between countries," explained Siti Aminah. To cooperate, apply for LHLN accreditation or recognition of a halal certificate to BPJPH through the BPJPH Sihalal service application which can be accessed via ptsp.halal.go.id. Through this page, LHLN can create an account and then upload the submission documents and requirements digitally. "The document will then be processed by BPJPH following regulatory provisions, including the assessment process until the signing of the Mutual Recognition Agreement or MRA with BPJPH," she concluded.

Source: https://jurnalislam.com/18-negara-bahas-kerja-sama-halal-dengan-indonesia/