REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) will have a halal agency to provide halal certification for foods, drugs and cosmetics. Chairman of NU, Said Aqil Siraj, guaranteed that NU Halal Agency (BHNU) would not compete with the Assessment Institute For Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics of Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI).
"BHNU is only for NU members, especially for its small and micro enterprises," Said Aqil said on Wednesday.
The idea came out after exhibition of NU Entrepreneurs Board in Surabaya. At first they concerned that the halal agency would vie with MUI.
Head of BHNU, Maksum Machfoedz, said NU would issue halal and haram edicts, while product testing would be conducted by PT Succofindo. BHNU will also open for any other institution to get halal certification. Machfoedz said NU would maintain monitoring the products which had been certified.