Indonesia, Singapore cement halal trade ties
Indonesia and Singapore have signed a preliminary agreement to enhance bilateral halal product trade.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to strengthen, advance, and develop cooperation regarding halal product quality assurance.
"This MoU is important to increase the volume of exports and imports of Indonesia and Singapore in a mutually beneficial manner, especially the volume of halal product trade," Muhammad Aqil Irham, the head of Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and one of the signatories of the MoU, said.
"This is also to welcome the first phase of halal certification obligations to be implemented in October 2024 for food products, beverages, raw materials, food additives, auxiliary materials for food and beverage products, as well as products in services and slaughter meat," he added.
Indonesia announced in May that it will delay the mandatory halal products certification requirement until 2026, particularly for micro and small enterprises. The original October 2024 deadline for the certification policy will continue to be applicable on medium and large enterprises.
The scope of the agreement includes cooperation between the two institutions in the field of halal certification and halal logos based on equality and mutual benefit in accordance with the regulations and policies of both countries, Indonesia's state news agency Antara reported.
Indonesia and Singapore are also members of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore Ministers of Religious Affairs Forum, or MABIMS.
"This cooperation will ensure that halal products are consistently certified through high standards to assure halal quality, which is necessary for ensuring the availability of halal products for consumers," Kadir Maideen, chief executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said.
MUIS is the only institution that has the authority to issue halal certificates in Singapore. In addition to Indonesia, Singapore has signed similar MoUs with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan and Morocco.
