ABP: Efforts to Steer Public Opinion Without Facts on US Product Halal Certification Issue

Jakarta, VIVA – Secretary General of Arus Bawah Prabowo (ABP), Ary Nugroho, has expressed concern over narratives steering public opinion without a factual basis regarding the alleged exemption of halal certification for products originating from the United States.

He argued that the issue is not only misleading but also has the potential to erode public trust in the national halal product assurance system.

“Do not build wild narratives as though there is preferential treatment for products from a particular country. That is untrue and does not align with the facts. Our regulations are clear and firm,” said Ary on Monday, 23 February 2026.

For Ary, this issue must not be allowed to proliferate. He contended that efforts to steer opinion without data would only create confusion and harm consumers as well as businesses that comply with the rules.

“We are talking about legal certainty and regulatory sovereignty. Do not twist this as though there has been some compromise,” he stressed.

He also called on all parties — politicians, analysts, and activists alike — to present views grounded in data and regulation, rather than assumptions. “Do not build narratives that actually weaken the system we are collectively strengthening,” Ary concluded.

According to him, the obligation for halal certification is a legislative mandate applicable to all products in the mandatory halal category, without discrimination based on country of origin. He affirmed that Indonesia’s regulatory sovereignty is non-negotiable.

Ary also highlighted the importance of public literacy in understanding the mechanism of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA). He explained that recognition of foreign halal bodies is not a form of leniency but rather a standard equivalence mechanism that remains under the control of national authorities.

Indonesia does recognise a number of Foreign Halal Bodies (LHLN) based in the US, such as Halal Transactions of Omaha and the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. However, such recognition is conducted rigorously through official evaluation and remains under the authority of the Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH).

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has also confirmed that there are no halal certification exemptions for US products. Products falling within the mandatory halal category must still display a halal label in accordance with prevailing Indonesian regulations.

“Products that are required to have halal certification must still display a halal label, whether issued by a halal body in the United States or a halal body in Indonesia,” he affirmed.