Earlier this month, the government said that it had speeded up deliberation on a bill on halal certification that had met with vociferous opposition from businesses, who argued that the new rule would increase costs.
Under the planned law, halal certificates and labels will be required for three sectors: F&B, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This would apply not only to all ingredients but also the equipment used during production.
The law would also call on a new compliance body, the National Halal Products Certification Agency, to oversee certification under the rules, while a religious body, the Indonesian Ulema Council, would set halal standards.
The bill, which was initiated by lawmakers and not the ruling government, was said to have been introduced to protect the Muslim majority of local consumers from products containing non-halal ingredients, such as pork and alcohol.
Make it voluntary, says food body
Food businesses in Indonesia are against the proposed law, whose mandatory application is backed by religious parties. Their contention is that for this bill to become a law, it must be amended to make halal certification of their products optional, not mandatory, as planned.
In a oral submission to the House of Representatives, Yusuf Hadi, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association, said that lawmakers should not force local businesses to secure halal certificates.
“We remain firm in saying that the new law should not be mandatory for local firms. There is still a group of non-Muslims in the country that accounts for 10 per cent of the total population of 240 million people. We ought to not forget their needs,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf said that the new law, in its present state, would burden small and medium businesses. Local businesses currently spend between US$26 and US$416 per product to obtain halal certificates from the Ulema Council, albeit voluntarily.
A long drawn-out battle
The bill is being deliberated by a group of lawmakers and government ministers under House Commission VIII, which oversees religious affairs, and it is likely that a decision will be made in late October. However, the bill has been under deliberation since 2004.
The bill has political undertones mixed with religious and ideological leanings of the major parties. Groups like the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party are pushing for the new law to be made mandatory for local businesses that wish to sell their products to Muslim consumers.
In contrast, the more liberal and secular Democratic Party insists that the regulation be applied with a voluntary clause. For now, all eyes are on October 26, when the House Commission VIII is expected to give a ruling on the bill
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company (ticker symbol FMC - HoSE), one of Vietnam's largest shrimp exporters, recently announced its 2024 business results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The United States remains one of the largest importers and consumers of Vietnamese pangasius, primarily in the form of frozen fillets. However, in recent years, the country has significantly increased its imports of value-added pangasius products.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After reaching a peak of nearly USD 6 million in June 2024, the export value of Vietnamese tuna to Italy has stagnated and continuously declined in the last five months of the year. Cumulatively, by December 15, 2024, export turnover to this market decreased by 18% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching over USD 30 million. With this decline, Italy is no longer Vietnam's largest tuna import market within the EU bloc.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, with its 32-km coastline, is well-positioned to develop a thriving seafood industry. Recognising the importance of sustainable offshore fishing, local authorities have implemented policies to modernise the fishing fleet and support operations in offshore waters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the evening of December 23, 2024, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) held a ceremony to celebrate the seafood export milestone of 10 billion USD, with hopes for continued growth in 2025. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, and representatives from various ministries, as well as domestic and international partners.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a market share exceeding 10% in Vietnam's aquafeed sector, Sao Mai Super Feed has affirmed its position as one of the leading brands, making a significant contribution to the development of the pangasius industry and elevating Vietnamese pangasius products on the international stage.
Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Hoai Nam said that in the past 5-6 years, Vietnam's seafood export value has only hovered around 8-10 billion USD/year. To reach the value of 16 billion USD by 2030, Mr. Nam proposed establishing corporations/enterprises to exploit the sea.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Hoan Seafood (stock code VHC) announced that its export turnover to three key markets— the U.S., EU, and China—grew between 32% and 40% in November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp exports for the first 11 months of 2024 brought in nearly 3.6 billion USD, up 22% compared to the same period last year. Exports to major consumption markets all recorded double-digit growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, total pangasius imports into the European Union saw a significant decline compared to the previous year. Approximately 70,000 tons were imported, 3,000 tons less than in 2022, according to a report from FAO-Globefish.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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