Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin pressed all micro and small enterprises (MSEs) actors across regions to take part in halal certification, so that their products receive halal certificates.
“I urge all micro and small enterprises’ actors to take part in halal certification. This effort is important to boost competitiveness and add product value,” the vice president noted in a speech at the Syawal Festival of the Indonesian Ulema Council Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM MUI) 1442 H held virtually here on Tuesday.
With a halal certification, Amin believes that MSEs products from all regions are projected to strengthen the economy, both at the national and international levels.
The government has also established a policy of obtaining certificates for free for MSEs actors as a follow-up to Law Number 11 of 2020 on Job Creation.
“As a follow-up to the Job Creation Act, the government, through Finance Minister’s Regulation Number 57 of 2021, has set a policy of obtaining certificates for free for MSEs,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Executive Director of LPPOM MUI, Muti Arintawati, admitted to obstacles encountered by MSEs actors in securing halal certificates.
“The difficulties they face are the lack of knowledge on the requirements for halal certificates, limited access to information on halal goods, existing difficulties in getting sources of halal-certified meat and derivative products on the market, as well as cost issues,” Arintawati expounded.
Through the LPPOM MUI 1442 H Syawal Festival, Arintawati highlighted that her institution had opened up opportunities for MSEs to partake in halal certification.
LPPOM MUI is accepting online registrations from 3,166 MSEs from which 1,811 participants will be selected to obtain technical guidance and only 644 MSEs will receive halal certificates.
“Of course, this number is still very small as compared to the participants that took part and the number of MSEs in Indonesia. However, we hope that this effort would provide support for MSEs in Indonesia,” she remarked.
Source: Antara News