Facing the October Halal Obligation, UNU Jogja Strengthens Halal Certification Assistance Governance

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) continues to strengthen the governance of halal certification assistance through its Halal Center’s LP3H. The effort comes as the implementation of the October 2026 Halal Obligation draws closer and demand among business actors for halal certification services under the self-declare scheme continues to grow.

The initiative was highlighted during a monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of self-declare halal certification for the 2026 fiscal year conducted by the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH RI) at the Halal Center LP3H of UNU Jogja on Thursday (6/8). For UNU Jogja, the monitoring served as an opportunity to evaluate program implementation while identifying aspects of governance that still need to be strengthened.

Head of the UNU Jogja Halal Center, Dr. Fahmaninda Listiyani, B.Ecs. (Hons.), M.P.E., said the monitoring and evaluation was an important part of ensuring that the self-declare halal certification process is implemented in accordance with applicable regulations.

“This monitoring is an important part of our evaluation of the self-declare certification process, including how the development and supervision of P3H are carried out. The findings from this monitoring will serve as a basis for us to continuously improve the process,” she said.

During the monitoring, several aspects of LP3H governance were reviewed. These included LP3H’s supervision and development of Halal Product Process Assistants (P3H), LP3H verifiers, invoice payments, P3H data management, and LP3H’s control over P3H assistance activities.

According to Fahmaninda, these aspects are interconnected in ensuring that the halal certification assistance process is carried out in an orderly manner. Strengthening governance is necessary to ensure that P3H can perform its role optimally in assisting business actors in completing the halal certification process through the self-declare scheme.

“Strengthening governance is important to ensure that the assistance process is carried out in a structured manner and in accordance with procedures. For us, monitoring is also an opportunity to identify which areas still need to be strengthened,” she said.

Strengthening halal certification assistance has become increasingly relevant as the implementation of the October 2026 Halal Obligation approaches. In this context, the availability of competent assistants who can carry out the process in a structured manner is essential to ensure that business actors receive halal certification assistance in accordance with applicable requirements.

Meanwhile, the limited quota for free halal certification was also discussed during the meeting. The UNU Jogja Halal Center and the Deputy for Halal Registration and Certification at BPJPH RI discussed the increasingly limited quota, particularly ahead of the implementation of the October Halal Obligation.

A. Saubari from the Deputy for Halal Registration and Certification at BPJPH RI said that there was a possibility of additional quotas for free halal certification. However, the additional quota would depend on the availability of Additional Budget Allocation (ABT), which requires approval.

This situation is a concern for the UNU Jogja Halal Center, as business actors continue to need access to free halal certification. Amid the limited quota, Halal Product Process Assistants (P3H) are encouraged to optimize the available quota while strengthening assistance for eligible business actors.

Fahmaninda said the UNU Jogja Halal Center continues to encourage the optimization of the available quota by strengthening coordination and assistance for P3H. The effort aims to ensure that eligible business actors can take advantage of the opportunity to obtain halal certification through the self-declare scheme.

“We certainly hope that the quota for free halal certification will remain available so that more business actors can receive assistance and fulfill their halal certification obligations,” she said.

For UNU Jogja, strengthening the LP3H goes beyond fulfilling administrative requirements. The Halal Center also continues to promote improvements in the quality of assistance so that the LP3H can provide broader benefits for business actors while contributing to the development of a stronger halal ecosystem.

Through strengthened governance, P3H development, data management, and control over the assistance process, UNU Jogja is committed to ensuring that halal certification services are delivered effectively and systematically. This effort forms part of UNU Jogja’s contribution to supporting business actors in preparing for the implementation of the October Halal Obligation while strengthening the halal ecosystem. [Latifah]