Denpasar , ( 02/02 ) – PT SUCOFINDO (Persero) has been assigned as a Halal Examination Institution (LPH) by the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia. The assignment ceremony was carried out by the Head of BPJPH Ministry of Religion, Prof. Sukoso to the President Director of PT SUCOFINDO (Persero) Bachder Djohan Buddin in Bali.
This assignment, according to Sukoso, was chosen based on the review of BPJPH’s expert team on the capacity and capability of PT SUCOFINDO (Persero). “This determination process is not necessarily without reason and requires a long process. We have also visited the SUCOFINDO Laboratory directly, to ensure quality in supporting the halal industry, “said Sukoso.
In addition, according to Sukoso, SUCOFINDO also has facilities and infrastructures that are qualified as supporting the halal industry. “We have verified SUCOFINDO has a long experience in ascertaining the halal industry, which has a special Laboratory for Halal, as well as a range of SUCOFINDO Branches and Laboratories spread throughout Indonesia. In addition, it also has ISO 17205 on Testing Institutions, so this can facilitate and complement the needs of the Indonesian halal industry, “added Sukoso.
According to Sukoso, the halal industry needs a special mechanism, especially in checking conformity, so SUCOFINDO is declared qualified because in addition to having experience, it is also equipped with infrastructure to complement it.
This assignment also according to Sukoso was a mandate and a follow-up of Law 33 of 2014 . “And on this day BPJPH states that PT SUCOFINDO (Persero) has officially been designated as the Halal Inspection Institute,” said Sukoso.
He hopes that PT SUCOFINDO (Persero) with 63 years experience, in the field of Testing, Inspection and Certification is able to provide better mechanisms and improve performance for the progress of the Indonesian halal industry. “Sucofindo is a BUMN and BPJPH is an echelon 1 unit of public services under the Ministry of Religion. I believe that these two entities will complement each other and we are also optimistic that we can improve and support the Indonesian halal industry, “said Sukoso.
Furthermore, President Director Bachder Djohan Buddin appreciated and thanked for the trust gained from BPJPH for the establishment of PT SUCOFINDO (Persero) as LPH (20/2). ” We will run the mandate professionally, responsibly, with integrity, so that they can be taken into consideration in the halal certification decision managed by BPJPH after receiving halal fatwa by the Indonesian Ulema Council Fatwa Commission ,” Bachder said.
This work, according to Bachder, adds to the scope of the SUCOFINDO service sector, which is the Halal Industry Assurance Sector, which is currently also one of the government’s programs to improve the competitiveness of Indonesian products.
Currently the Government is also developing the halal industry, through PERPRES number 28 of 2020, which is to make changes in KNKS to KNEKS or the National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance where the KNEKS is also in charge of the Sharia economy as a whole to the real industry.
The enormous potential of the Halal industry is an opportunity for assurance services to contribute to developing and strengthening it. ” This opportunity must be optimized by us , in order to become one of the sources of company revenue. In parallel we are also preparing and optimizing the quality of human resources in all of our service units throughout Indonesia, so that our next target is to be able to serve the halal industry in each service unit location, ” Bachder said.
About Sucofindo
PT Sucofindo (Persero) is the first inspection company in Indonesia and was established on October 22, 1956. As a BUMN, the Government of Indonesia is a major shareholder with 95 percent ownership.
Sucofindo’s business stems from inspection and supervision services in the field of trade assisting the government in ensuring the smooth flow of goods and securing the country’s foreign exchange. Then Sucofindo conducts diversification of services in the fields of analytical laboratory, engineering, auditing, assessment, consultancy, training and various related supporting activities, including in agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, mining, construction, processing industry, marine, fisheries, transportation, new energy and renewable, and information technology.
Sucofindo has 60 service points spread throughout Indonesia, managed in an integrated manner and supported by experts in various fields. An extensive laboratory network provides close service to customers throughout Indonesia .
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JAKARTA – The Indonesian government’s halal authority BPJPH is in discussions with the House of Representatives Commission VIII (religious, social, and women’s empowerment affairs) over a draft Omnibus Law to improve the halal certification process, its head Prof. Sukoso told Salaam Gateway.
The regulation will cut the time required for the halal certification process from around 90 days to 21 days, waive fees for micro and small enterprises with turnover of below 1 billion rupiah ($70,000), and exempt mandatory halal certification for low-risk businesses such as fruits and fried food sellers.
“We are finalizing the bill. There will be a self-declaration policy for low-risk and riskless businesses but for others they are still mandated to process halal certifications, that will be processed in 21 days at the latest,” said BPJPH head Prof. Sukoso.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted BPJPH’s halal certification process and Prof. Sukoso said that since it took over as the country’s only halal certifier from Majelis Ulema Indonesia (MUI) on October 17, 4,050 halal certification applications (until May) were paused due to difficulties completing some tasks such as printing of certifications, getting signatures, and stamping logos.
Prof. Sukoso expects the first appointed Halal Audit Institution (LPH), Sucofindo, can assist BPJPH to tackle the backlog.
Sucofindo was officially assigned as a LPH after BPJPH conducted a review of its capacity and capability.
“We officially declared them as our first halal audit institution partner in late February. They submitted all documents required and should have run the operation since then but the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, so their operation is paused. As we know, the halal industry needs special mechanisms, especially in checking conformity and Sucofindo suits this job,” said Prof. Sukoso.
He said Sucofindo has six halal auditors that have passed competency tests set by the MUI. A minimum of three auditors is needed to establish a halal audit institution.
Sucofindo also has the required facilities and infrastructure, as well as many branches and laboratories across Indonesia, that qualify it to support the work of halal auditing. It is also certified ISO 17205 for Testing Institutions. The body has 63 years of experience conducting conformity tests, inspections and certifications, as welll as assessing the halal industry.
BPJPH is also seeking partnerships with other companies, including PT Surveyor Indonesia. It would need to pass all four requirements, including having its own laboratory facilities, its own branches across Indonesia, register and receive accreditation from BPJPH, and employ a minimum of three halal auditors certified by MUI.
More certified halal auditors are in the pipeline. Around 233 halal auditor candidates from 35 universities and 77 halal audit institutions are also on the waiting list for MUI competency tests.
(Reporting by Yosi Winosa; Editing by Emmy Abdul Alim emmy.abdulalim@salaamgateway.com)
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