Halal Industry and Exports: Decisive Critical Material Points

For industries producing for the export market, halal certification is not just an administrative obligation at home. It becomes part of the requirements for product acceptance in the destination country. Inspection is carried out in layers, from raw materials to the production process.

At this point, critical material points become a decisive technical issue. Materials that appear simple can hold up the entire verification process.

Why critical material points are decisive in the export channel

Halal inspection bodies work with documentary evidence and traceability of material origin. For export products, supply chains are often longer and involve cross-border suppliers. Every link in the chain must be explainable.

Materials whose status depends on their source cannot be verified from their trade name alone. They require documents showing origin, process, and halal certificate from the supplier. Without these, the inspection stops at that material.

Four materials that often hold up the process

Several materials appear repeatedly in the production of processed food and pharmaceuticals. Their status cannot be determined from the type of material alone.

• Whey and caseinate. These milk derivatives are inherently halal, but the cheese-making process at their source may use animal rennet. The alternative is whey or caseinate from producers that declare the use of microbial rennet or halal-certified animal rennet.
• Alcohol or ethanol. Its status depends on the source, concentration, and purpose of use. This material is used as a solvent for flavorings and colorants, in vanilla extract, fermented products, and liquid medicines. The alternative is non-alcohol plant-based solvents, or ethanol with source and concentration documents verified by the LPH (Halal Inspection Body).
• Pepsin. This protein-digesting enzyme comes from pig or cattle stomachs, and is used in the cheese and pharmaceutical industries. The alternative is pepsin from halal-certified cattle stomachs, or microbial protease enzymes as a substitute.
• Shellac (E904). A glossy coating from lac insect resin. Materially it is generally tolerated, but the process needs to be checked. The alternative is halal-certified shellac with verified solvents, or plant-based coatings such as pure carnauba wax.

These four materials are widely used: in formula powdered milk, protein drinks, bread and bakery products, processed cheese, supplements, and coatings for pills and fresh fruit.

From SJPH criteria to verification readiness

On the business actor side, the implementation of the halal product assurance system (SJPH) is regulated through BPJPH (Halal Product Assurance Agency) Head Decree Number 57 of 2021, which contains five criteria: commitment and responsibility, materials, halal product process, product, and monitoring and evaluation. This decree has been amended by Kepka 20/2023.

The materials criterion requires business actors to have a clear material registry, including supporting documents for risky materials. This is what is then examined by the halal inspection body.

Accreditation of halal inspection bodies refers to SNI ISO/IEC 17065:2012, which regulates impartiality, confidentiality, personnel competence, complaint and appeal management, and liability. The LPH accreditation guidelines themselves are set through BPJPH Head Decree Number 78 of 2025, covering requirements, Pratama and Utama qualifications, scope of competence, fees, application flow, surveillance, and witness assessment.

Meanwhile, BPJPH service standards are set through BPJPH Head Decree Number 243 of 2025, which contains 27 types of services complete with requirements, timeframes, and tariffs, including LPH accreditation, registration of LP3H and PPH assistants, issuance of halal certificates, and facilitation codes. This decree revokes Kepka 120/2022.

What export-oriented industries need to prepare

Export readiness does not start from the registration file, but from material tracing. There are several steps that can be prepared earlier.

1. Compile a comprehensive material registry, including auxiliary and processing aids that are often overlooked.
2. Map materials whose status depends on their source, such as whey, caseinate, pepsin, and shellac.
3. Collect material origin documents and supplier halal certificates for risky materials.
4. Ensure the production process does not come into contact with unverified materials.
5. Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation so that supplier changes do not undermine system readiness.

It should be noted that the determination of halalness is the authority of the MUI Fatwa Commission or the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. Halal certificates are only issued by BPJPH. Therefore, the task of business actors is to prepare evidence and systems, not to determine the halal status of their own products.

Closing

For industries pursuing export markets, critical material points are technical work that is repetitive and ongoing. To manage them, the SJPH platform from IndoHalal.id helps compile material registries, map critical points, and maintain BPJPH certification readiness in one application.