There are 74 Percent of Slaughterhouses that have not been Halal Certified, HSC IPB University Holds FGD to Accelerate the Certification Process

Halal Science Center (HSC) IPB University in collaboration with the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) held a focus group discussion (FGD) related to the ‘Slaughterhouse Halal Certification Process’ on (30/11). The event revealed that currently, 74 per cent of slaughterhouses (RPH) have not been halal certified.

Prof Khaswar Syamsu, Chairman of HSC IPB University in his speech conveyed the importance of bringing together stakeholders to jointly accelerate the halal certification process in Indonesia. One of the strong reasons is that until now, there are only 26 per cent of slaughterhouses that are halal certified.

“This FGD is important because we know that meat products and their derivatives are the most critical ingredients in the halal certification process. And, the slaughterhouse is the first link in the halal supply chain. So if the meat that comes out of the slaughterhouse is not halal, then it will not be halal until it reaches the food table in our house,” he said during the FGD at the IPB International Convention Centre (IICC), Bogor.

For this reason, Prof Khaswar Syamsu asserted that abattoir certification is a must, considering that the government has set a deadline that all abattoir service providers in Indonesia must be certified before 17 October 2024.

Chairman of the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health of IPB University, Prof Drajat Martianto said that Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population. However, in supplying halal food for pilgrims, the Saudi Arabian government prefers halal food from New Zealand and Brazil, which are not Muslim countries.

“Halal food for Muslim countries is an absolute guarantee. For this reason, IPB University has a dedication task so that 74 per cent of slaughterhouses that have not been certified must be accelerated so that all can be certified,” he said.

Furthermore, he revealed the importance of cooperation with various parties to discuss critical points so that they can complete 74 per cent of slaughterhouses that have not been certified.

Dr Novian Darmawan, Secretary of HSC IPB University, when moderating the event said that the biggest problem for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is the availability of halal meat. The halal meat production can be issued by certified slaughterhouses.

“The hope from this FGD is that there will be synchronisation related to regulations. Because, the spearhead of the certification of business actors is the abattoir and those who will be audited are business actors. There must be a common understanding between business actors, auditors and abattoirs. This will speed up the certification process,” he explained.

Present as speakers were Evy Nuryana from BPJPH and the head of the halal slaughterhouse research group HSC IPB University. (dh/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)