BPJPH, SFDA establish cooperation in halal product assurance

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Religious Affairs Ministry’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) have established cooperation in the field of halal product assurance.

In a press statement received here on Friday, head of the BPJPH, Aqil Irham, said that the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on halal product assurance cooperation during President Joko Widodo’s visit to Al Yamama Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The MoU includes efforts to develop a conformity assessment procedure, standard specifications, and technical regulations for the issuance of halal certificates, he informed.

The cooperation agreement also covers the recognition and acceptance of halal certificates issued by BPJPH and SFDA for products exported by both countries as well as the sharing of experience and knowledge in the field of training, research, and laboratory analysis of halal products.

“The synergy of halal product assurance between BPJPH and SFDA will certainly have major positive implications for strengthening the halal ecosystem of each country,” Irham said.

According to him, the cooperation agreement will strengthen the contribution of halal products to the economies of the two countries.

The MoU will be valid for two years from the time it was signed and could be extended with the agreement of both parties.

Irham said that Indonesia is seeking to strengthen its role in the global halal product ecosystem in order to realize its aspiration of becoming the largest global halal hub.

Furthermore, the cooperation between BPJPH and SFDA will play an important role in improving bilateral relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, which have been long-established in various fields, he added.