KBRN, Jakarta: Market traders are set to play a stronger role in Indonesia’s halal certification ecosystem, following a new collaboration between the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and the Market Traders Committee Association.

The partnership aims to expand outreach, education, and promotion of halal product assurance across the country. BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan said the commitment was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.

“Collaboration with market trader communities carries strategic value, as traditional markets are one of the main hubs for products consumed daily by the public,” Haikal explained in a statement delivered in Jakarta on Monday, January 12, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He added that the agreement is designed to strengthen the role of market-based businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises (MSEs), in supporting mandatory halal certification and building an inclusive, sustainable halal ecosystem.

Haikal emphasized that market traders serve as the frontline of the halal ecosystem. “Through this cooperation, we hope business actors will gain proper understanding, guidance, and access to halal certification,” he said.

The MoU covers several key areas including expanding socialization, education, and promotion of halal product assurance to business actors; facilitating halal certification, both through the free halal certification (SEHATI) scheme and non-SEHATI scheme for MSEs; providing assistance in the certification process for guided businesses; and enhancing human resource quality through training in halal product assurance.

Haikal noted that the synergy is expected to extend halal implementation to grassroots-level enterprises, while also strengthening consumer trust and boosting the competitiveness of MSE products.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Market Traders Committee Association, Abdul Rosyid Arsyad, welcomed the collaboration and expressed readiness to actively support the rollout of halal product assurance programs within market trader communities. ***