Source: Metro TV News

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s halal certification system faces a significant staffing challenge that is directly affecting the country’s ability to meet domestic meat demand. The shortage of English-speaking halal auditors has created delays in the certification process for imported food products, particularly impacting meat imports from Australia.

According to Ahmad Haikal Hasan, Head of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), the organization is experiencing a critical shortage of qualified halal auditors who possess adequate English language skills. These auditors play a crucial role in verifying halal standards for imported food products before they can enter the Indonesian market.

The Scope of the Problem

The staffing shortage extends beyond just auditors to include halal slaughterers, but the language barrier presents an additional challenge for international certification work. Haikal revealed that his agency frequently receives complaints from overseas companies frustrated by the lengthy delays in audit scheduling.

“We often receive complaints from abroad asking why the auditors haven’t arrived yet. This is because we have very few auditors with good English capabilities, so we have to keep telling them to wait,” Haikal explained during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament.

Impact on Meat Supply

The auditor shortage has created a significant bottleneck in Indonesia’s meat supply chain. The country requires approximately 650,000 tons of meat annually to meet domestic demand, yet the certification delays are preventing adequate imports from Australia, a key supplier.

During a recent visit to Australia, Haikal discovered that some facilities had been waiting up to a year for halal audits to be completed. This delay is attributed to the limited number of available auditors who are already committed to other certification projects.

The consequences are substantial for Indonesia’s food security. While the country needs 650,000 tons of meat per year, current availability from Australia has been limited to between 120,000 and 200,000 tons due to these certification delays.

Addressing the Challenge

The situation highlights the need for Indonesia to expand its pool of qualified halal auditors, particularly those with strong English language capabilities. The current shortage is not just affecting bilateral trade relations but also impacting the country’s ability to ensure adequate food supply for its population.

This staffing challenge reflects broader issues in Indonesia’s halal certification system, which must balance thorough religious compliance verification with efficient processing of international trade requirements. The agency’s struggle to meet demand underscores the importance of investing in human resources and language training for certification personnel.

The situation with Australian meat imports serves as a case study for how administrative capacity can directly impact food security and international trade relationships. Resolving this auditor shortage will be crucial for Indonesia to maintain its halal certification standards while ensuring adequate food supply for its growing population.

Original article:

metrotvnews.com. (n.d.). Auditor Halal Berbahasa Inggris Kurang, Hambat Impor 650 Ribu Ton Daging dari Australia. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://www.metrotvnews.com/read/b2lCpABn-auditor-halal-berbahasa-inggris-kurang-hambat-impor-650-ribu-ton-daging-dari-australia