Technical Steps of Halal Certification, Stage by Stage

Halal certification is not just filling out a form. There is a technical sequence that businesses need to carry out, from preparing the internal system to the certificate being issued. This article guides you through the stages in order so you know what to do first.

Before Registering: Build the System and Map the Materials

These two tasks should be completed before you touch the registration form. Both determine how smoothly the next process goes.

1. Implement the SJPH according to five criteria

The reference for implementing the system on the business side is the Criteria for the Halal Product Assurance System, which contains five criteria: commitment and responsibility, materials, halal product process, product, and monitoring and evaluation. These five criteria become your daily work framework, not a one-time document.

In practice, start with the halal policy established by management. After that, form a team and appoint personnel to run the system. The materials and process criteria usually demand the most work because they involve the production kitchen and the supply chain.

2. Compile a materials registry and mark critical points

List all materials that go into the product, including additives and processing aids. For each material, trace its origin and request supporting documents from the supplier.

Some materials need more attention because their status depends on the source. For example:

• Lecithin (E322). Generally from soy, but some comes from egg yolk or animal fat. The clearly labeled alternative is soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin.
• Shellac (E904). A glossy coating from the resin of the lac insect. Materially it is generally tolerated, but the process needs to be checked, especially the solvent used.
• Mechanically separated meat (MSM). Meat residue from bones extracted by machine, at risk of being mixed from various types of animals.
• Yeast. Generally halal, but the growth medium needs to be checked.

For materials like these, do not stop at the trade name. Trace it back to the base material supplier and keep the evidence.

Registration and Inspection Stage

3. Register the halal certification application

The application is submitted to BPJPH. Prepare the product data, materials list, and required supporting documents. The completeness of the file at this stage affects the speed of the next process.

4. Inspection by the Halal Inspection Agency

Once the application is accepted, the inspection process is carried out by the LPH. The LPH is an agency that has gone through accreditation, and its accreditation guidelines refer to SNI ISO/IEC 17065:2012. This standard governs, among other things, impartiality, confidentiality, personnel competence, and the handling of complaints and appeals.

During the inspection, the auditor will match the documents against the actual conditions on site. Therefore, make sure the materials registry, production records, and procedures you claim are truly running, not just written down.

5. Determination of halalness

The inspection results become the basis for the determination of halalness. This determination is the authority of the MUI Fatwa Commission or the Halal Product Fatwa Committee. It should be understood that the LPH inspects and BPJPH issues the certificate, while the halal determination lies in the realm of fatwa. These three roles do not replace one another.

6. Issuance of the halal certificate

The certificate is only issued by BPJPH. Once the certificate is issued, the work is not finished.

After the Certificate Is Issued

7. Keep the system alive

The monitoring and evaluation criteria require you to maintain the system after the certificate is obtained. Conduct internal audits regularly. Check whether there are changes in materials, suppliers, or processes that have not been recorded. Such changes are often overlooked and instead become findings during the next inspection.

If there is a supplier change, repeat the tracing of critical points for the related materials. Keep the new documents. This kind of consistency is what keeps your certificate meaningful, not just a piece of paper on the wall.

Summary of the Sequence

1. Implement the SJPH according to the five criteria.
2. Compile a materials registry and mark critical points.
3. Register the application with BPJPH.
4. Undergo inspection by the LPH.
5. Wait for the halal determination through fatwa.
6. Receive the certificate from BPJPH.
7. Maintain the system through internal audits and periodic monitoring.

This sequence looks long, but each stage supports the others. A tidy system at the start will save time at the inspection stage. If you want to manage the five SJPH criteria, the materials registry, and critical points in one place, the SJPH platform from IndoHalal.id can help tidy up your certification readiness.