The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) of Southeast Sulawesi has issued halal certification to 6,814 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as of May 16, 2024. "Halal certification has been granted to 6,184 MSMEs out of the 7,786 that applied," stated Ruspandi, Secretary of BPJPH Southeast Sulawesi, in Kendari on Monday. Ruspandi emphasized that halal certification is a mandatory requirement for every business operator, as stipulated by Law No. 33 of 2014, which mandates that products circulating, marketed, and traded in Indonesia must be halal-certified. Furthermore, Government Regulation (PP) No. 39 of 2021 also mandates that food, beverages, services, and slaughter products must have halal certification.Ruspandi outlined several benefits for business operators whose MSME products are halal-certified. Firstly, it builds consumer trust. "Secondly, with halal certification, MSME products can be marketed to Islamic countries where products must have halal certification," he said. Thirdly, as product marketing expands, the economic value for business operators automatically increases. Therefore, he encourages business operators to promptly submit their products for halal certification. He also mentioned that in the future, the government could promote halal certification for slaughterhouses and poultry processing facilities, whether done independently or facilitated by the government.
