Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) of the Religious Affairs Ministry signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with 37 foreign halal institutions (LHLN).
"Praise God, the second day of the H20 resulted in the signing of MRA agreement between BPJPH and 37 LHLN," the head of BPJPH, Aqil Irham, conveyed in a statement on Sunday.
The agreement signing is included on the sidelines of the H20 Halal World 2023 event in Jakarta from November 17 to 21.
According to Irham, there were two types of MRA signed at the event. First, the MRA signing between BPJPH and nine LHLNs for mutual recognition and acceptance
Second, MRA between BPJPH and 28 LHLN to accelerate the completion of LHLN assessments for recognition and acceptance of halal certificates, he continued.
The nine LHLNs that have signed an MRA with BPJPH for recognition and mutual acceptance of halal certificates are the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), Korean Halal Authority, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), Taiwan Halal Integrity Development Association, The Central Islamic Council of Thailand, Halal Certification Center of Chile (Chilehalal), Halal Conformity Services, The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), and New Zealand Islamic Development Trust Ltd.
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Meanwhile, the 28 LHLNs signed up for the second type of agreement, among others the American Halal Foundation (AHF), ISWA Halal Certification Department, Islamic Services of America ISA, Halal Transactions Inc./Halal Transaction of Omaha, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of Canada, and Halal Montreal Certification Authority Inc.
"This cooperation is a real outcome of accelerated efforts to strengthen JPH international cooperation (Halal Product Guarantee) through the recognition of halal certificates," Irham remarked.
Moreover, the BPJPH made commitments with 16 LHLNs regarding their willingness to complete the assessment, and also with 54 LHLNs -- that some have submitted documents to the Sihalal application and some are still in the process of verifying and completing the required documents.
"We hope that the results of this MRA will be immediately followed up and implemented to bring positive implications for the global halal ecosystem," he noted.
He added that BPJPH is also aiming to optimizing the economic value of industrial activities and trade of halal products, especially the highly valuable halal products, in order to recover and strengthen the national economy.
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