Saudi Arabia, Indonesia Sign MoU on Mutual Recognition of Halal Certificates, Product Quality Assurance

<p>The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) signed today a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the mutual recognition of halal certificates.<br />
The MoU aims to develop procedures for conformity assessment, standard specifications, and technical regulations for issuing halal certificates.<br />
The MoU also ensures mutual recognition between the two sides for exported local products as well as the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the areas of training, research, and laboratory analysis for halal products.<br />
The MoU was signed by Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) CEO Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey and Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham.<br />
The SFDA, represented by the Saudi Halal Center, works on implementing a unified system for bodies issuing halal certificates worldwide, Aljadhey said.<br />
The objective was reflected in the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Moroccan Standards Institute (IMANOR) of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy on mutual recognition of halal certificates, Aljadhey added.<br />
“Indicators suggest that the global Islamic economy is experiencing promising opportunities and that [its] volume is growing significantly," Aljadhey stated.<br />
The Saudi Halal Center is one of the initiatives of the National Transformation Program. The certificates issued by the center contribute to facilitating import and export procedures and supporting the export of local products to compete in global markets.</p>