Singapore signs halal cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Indonesia

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) of the Republic of Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the development and safeguarding of halal ecosystem between Singapore and Indonesia in the field of halal certification this morning. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister for Social & Family Development, Second Minister for Health & Minister in-charge of Muslim Affairs Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, His Excellency Suryo Pratomo.

2. The MOU solidifies the strategic partnership between the halal certification authorities of both countries in recognising each other's halal certificates and marks to facilitating trade. This partnership also allows MUIS and BPJPH to pool combined expertise and resources to address the challenges of halal certification in a rapidly evolving global halal industry.

3. In his opening remark, Chief Executive of MUIS, Mr Kadir Maideen said that today’s signing signifies more than just a strategic alliance, as Singapore prepare for the implementation of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance laws and associated regulations, which will become mandatory for the first tranche of products such as food and beverage starting from October this year.

4. Starting from 17 October this year, Indonesia will implement a regulation whereby all the Halal products that is exported to Indonesia must be recognized by the BPJPH. This is to ensure that only Halal products are imported to Indonesia, and non-halal products must be explicitly labelled. MUIS’ Deputy Director of Halal Development, Mr Faizal Othman said:

"This regulation that will be implemented has given a bit of anxiety to the businesses in Singapore but with the signing of today's MOU, BPJPH recognises Singapore's MUIS Halal certification, and thereby will give access to the Halal products from Singapore to be exported to Indonesia seamlessly. With this signing of MOU, I think it is an opportune time for the businesses in Singapore to expand its market, because they will gain access to about 250 million people in Indonesia. So that would strengthen the trust within not only people in Singapore, but also people in Indonesia.”

5. Both MUIS and BPJPH will also develop cooperation in several areas that will mutually recognise each countries Halal certification. Mr Faizal added:

“We are looking at how we can use digital technology to enhance our certification process between the two countries. With this, we are able to exchange information on the process of certification, as well as the products Halal products, between Indonesia and Singapore. And this would entail into the process of certification becoming much faster and increasing the status of the certification, between the two countries.”

6. The MOU signed with BPJPH is MUIS’ fifth such partnership with foreign Halal authorities in Muslim-majority market. MUIS has signed similar MOUs with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Morocco previously. These MOUs not only provide for the entry of halal-certified products from these countries to enter Singapore but contribute to the expansion of business opportunities for our Singaporean companies by paving the way for them to enter overseas markets.

Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura