Indonesia★ Halal certification information now available via mobile app

Amid intense focus on the halal market, an application providing halal product information has been developed in Indonesia. It allows easy access to accurate information on halal-compliant goods, enabling Muslims to purchase products more safely. This is reported by NNA, which distributes economic information across Asia.

Halal refers to all "sound products and activities" permitted under Islamic teachings. Products manufactured according to these precepts are sold after obtaining "halal certification."

In Indonesia, where Muslims make up about 90% of the population, many foods and cosmetics are sold with halal certification labels. However, some products are actually unregistered or have expired certifications. The widespread adoption of this easily accessible app is expected to increase opportunities for Muslims to purchase products safely.

The app was developed by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Food and Cosmetics Testing Agency (LPPOM). Previously, they published the magazine 'Halal Journal' containing information on halal-certified products. However, as the volume of information grew, printing and logistics costs increased. Consequently, they decided to distribute the information via a mobile app, which is becoming increasingly popular.

The official app, "Pro Halal MUI," runs on Android devices and is available for free download via Google Play. By launching the app and scanning the barcode of a food or cosmetic product with the camera, users can check the name, number, and validity period of the halal certification issued by LPPOM. The app also allows users to save scanned data for later reference.

An LPPOM spokesperson explained, "For consumers, this eliminates the need to flip through heavy magazines, dramatically increasing convenience." Currently, barcodes for 4,938 items from 96 retailers are registered, with plans to expand the range of products covered.