Halal is Non-Negotiable: IPB University Academics Highlight Threat of Relaxation of US Import Standards
Amidst the dynamics of Indonesia-US international trade cooperation that is currently in the spotlight, the Chairman of the IPB University Halal Science Center, Prof Khaswar Syamsu, delivered a strong message.
He reminded that Indonesian halal standards should not be subject to compromise in any trade agreement, including with the United States.
According to him, halal is not just an administrative claim or a label attached to a product. Halal, he said, is a comprehensive system that is verified from upstream to downstream, starting from the slaughtering process, production facilities, to halal assurance management that is documented and strictly audited.
“If foreign standards are recognized without substantive equivalence, what is at stake is the credibility of our own halal system,” he said.
Prof Khaswar said that a number of slaughter practices commonly applied in the United States are not fully in line with the standards referred to by Indonesia based on the fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Methods such as penetrative stunning of ruminants, gas stunning of poultry, and thoracic sticking are considered problematic because they have the potential to cause uncertainty regarding the cause of death of the animal.
“In our standards, clarity regarding the cause of death is a principle. If there is a possibility that the animal died not because of a valid slaughter, then its halal status becomes questionable,” he explained.
He also emphasized that reciting the basmalah through a recorded voice does not meet the halal requirements applicable in Indonesia. In practice, the tasmiyah must be recited directly by a slaughterer who meets the sharia requirements, as part of the validity of the slaughtering process.
This issue is increasingly relevant given that Indonesia is one of the largest halal consumer markets in the world. In this context, Prof Khaswar reminded that the policy direction must remain consistent and not reduce the substance of the standards that have been established.
“We aspire to be the center of global halal standards. But how can we be a reference if our own standards are negotiable?” he said.
He also highlighted the aspect of fairness for domestic businesses, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Law No 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Guarantee requires products circulating in Indonesia to have halal certification. If there are exceptions for certain imported products, according to him, this could potentially create the perception of double standards.
“MSMEs and local businesses are required to comply with very strict procedures. If imports are relaxed, this could create injustice and damage the national halal industry ecosystem,” he said.
From a consumer protection perspective, he emphasized that public trust is the main foundation of the halal system. Inconsistent policies can have a broad impact on the Muslim community’s perception of imported products.
“Trust is the foundation. Once the public feels that standards are inconsistent, the impact can be systemic,” he added.
As the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia is considered to have strong bargaining power in global halal trade. “The buyer is king. We have the right to determine the standards for products entering our market,” he concluded. (AS) (IAAS/SSR)
