Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Forge Partnership on Halal Product Assurance System
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have forged a strategic partnership to strengthen halal product assurance and quality systems through the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the Saudi Halal Center.
BPJPH head Ahmad Haikal Hasan, in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, affirmed that the strengthened cooperation reflects the long-term commitment of both nations to building an integrated, high-standard global halal governance framework.
“This cooperation reinforces the foundation of both countries’ halal systems through the harmonisation of mechanisms, digital transformation, and institutional capacity building. Indonesia views Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner in building a credible, transparent, and interconnected global halal ecosystem,” said Haikal.
Haikal further stated that the synergy through this memorandum of understanding (MoU) is an inseparable part of the previous cooperation agreement signed in Riyadh on 19 October 2023.
Under Indonesia’s halal product assurance system, the Saudi Halal Center, which operates under the coordination of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), is positioned as a Foreign Halal Body (LHLN) — an overseas halal certification authority that serves as BPJPH’s partner in cross-border recognition and cooperation mechanisms.
The strengthened cooperation encompasses the adoption of an integrated digital system for halal certificate issuance through data and information exchange, aimed at improving efficiency, simplifying procedures, and supporting the digital transformation of both countries’ halal systems.
The agreement also governs the use of the halal logo within the Saudi Halal Center’s certification system as a replacement for the logo stipulated in the 2023 MoU.
The recognition and display of said logo is carried out within the bilateral cooperation framework and remains subject to each country’s respective national laws and regulations.
For products entering the Indonesian market, the Indonesian Halal label must be displayed in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, and may be displayed alongside the Saudi Halal Center’s halal logo.
Meanwhile, for products entering the Saudi Arabian market, the display of the halal logo used in the Saudi Halal Center’s certification system must comply with regulations applicable in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and may be displayed alongside the Indonesian Halal Label where permitted.
The MoU takes effect from the date of signing for a period of five years and will be automatically renewed in accordance with the agreement of both parties.
“Through this synergy, BPJPH ensures that the halal product assurance cooperation between both countries operates in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, provides legal certainty for businesses and protection for consumers, and is conducted on the principle of mutual benefit,” said Haikal.