Halal certification is no longer limited to food. It also covers fashion, travel, cosmetics, pharmacy, and many other categories. Many people question the importance of non-food halal products on this basis. To address this argument, MBA ITB welcomed Aman Suparman, CEO of PT. Soka Cipta Niaga, as a guest lecturer for business practitioners working in related industries.
It should be noted that halal products are more than just certificates because a product or service’s journey includes an audit or inspection process for product guarantees. Consumers can feel more secure and protected after going through this process.
“This halal certification is more than just a religious or belief element. The essence of halalness is the product certainty during its production series providing superior quality and guaranteed hygiene,” stated the Council of Experts in the Masyarakat Ekonomi Syariah (MES).
The Commissioner of PT. Tampomas Cipta Pesona also explained several steps in the halal certification process. First, start with raw materials; the base and/or chemical mixture for the raw material must be free of haram elements. Second, the manufacturing machines and other supporting tools for the company’s performance during the manufacturing process must not be haram tools. Finally, in term of the manufacturing environment, the product is free of najis and has a halal guarantee system certificate.
The Importance of Halal Product Education
Aman also stated that our country’s halal industry has enormous potential. Indonesia, predominantly Muslim, has the world’s largest Muslim population, with 227,226,404 million people in 2019. It can be seen as business opportunities and challenges in the coming years.
To meet this challenge, Aman who is also the executive of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), continues to educate the public. From opening the door for visits through the Open Factory, conducting an edutainment program of halal products, to being a speaker in various media, seminars, and classroom discussions at various universities.
Indonesia must learn from our neighbors, such as Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Halal has become a way of life due to people’s way of thinking and behaving. Where the concept of halal is concerned, goods and services products can be very well received by Muslims. Besides, it can be a product choice for all non-Muslim believers in these countries.
