Muhammadiyah Council for Higher Education, Research, and Development (CHERD) held a webinar “Muhammadiyah-’Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) Strategies towards Policy Implementation of Halal Product Assurance”. The resource persons on the webinar held on Wednesday (28/12) comprised Dr H Anwar Abbas MM MAg, the Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Central Board 2020-2025; and Muhammad Nadratuzzaman Hosen PhD, the Managing Director of Halal Audit and Halal Thoyyiban Studies Agency (LPH-KHT) of Muhammadiyah Central Board. In addition, Prof Dr apt Nurkhasanah MSi as the Chairman of Halal Center UAD and Prof Dr Ir Elfi Anis Saati MP as the Head of Center of Halal Product Research and Development Studies UMM also delivered their materials as resource persons.
Dr H Anwar Abbas MM MAg appreciated the halal studies agencies in the Muhammadiyah universities. “It marks a serious attempt and high motivation in Muhammadiyah to establish halal assurance. Hopefully, the limitations ahead will not decelerate the agencies to keep moving forward”. By Muhammadiyah service (AUM) exemplary, the agencies would plan further agendas.
Dr H Anwar Abbas MM MAg delivered his presentation
Moreover, Nadra Hosen highlighted the Halal Center and Halal Audit existence in the Halal Certification model. The halal center would play a significant role in assisting Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access halal product certification submission to the Halal Product Certification Agency (BPJBH). “So, a product is certified if MSME collaborates with the Halal Center, which then submits the requirements in BPJBH),” he said.
MHEIs’ Roles
Afterwards, an important role that Prof Nurkhasanah highlighted was the role of higher education institutions. “Muhammadiyah higher education institution can play a role in the halal certification by establishing halal audit agency and halal thayyiban studies,” she said.
The urgency of halal thayyiban was emphasized by Prof Elfi Anis Saati. “So far, Indonesian people tend to select tasty food to consume but forget about its safety. The Covid-19 pandemic should make people aware of the importance of food in elevating health conditions. In MHEIs, together, we should conduct researches about this,” said Elfi.
In his remarks, Prof Dr H Chairil Anwar, Deputy-Chair of CHERD, confirmed the importance of policies review in the halal product assurance implementation. “The issue (halal product assurance) is not only in Indonesia, but also becomes a global concern. It is not only limited to food and drink products,” he said.
