Seminar and Launching of the ITS Halal Study Center
[Surabaya, March 24, 2016] —Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) officially launched the ITS Halal Center as a halal research and study hub under the coordination of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM ITS). The establishment of this center represents ITS’s concrete contribution to supporting the government and society in ensuring halal product protection in Indonesia.
The Head of LPPM ITS, Adi Soeprijanto, stated that the establishment of the ITS Halal Center is in line with the mandate of Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance, which allows both government and community institutions to establish Halal Inspection Bodies (LPH). “ITS has taken the initiative to establish a halal research center to support the protection of Muslim consumers, not only through inspection activities but also through strengthening research and scientific development,” he explained.
Adi further noted that in East Java, two universities have taken initiatives to develop Halal Inspection Bodies, namely Universitas Brawijaya in Malang and ITS in Surabaya. The presence of the ITS Halal Center is expected to reinforce the role of higher education institutions in strengthening the national halal ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the Head of the ITS Halal Center, Fredy Kurniawan, emphasized that the center is not solely focused on facilitating halal certification processes. “The ITS Halal Center also develops research on alternative materials to replace haram or syubhat (doubtful) substances that are still widely used in food and pharmaceutical products,” he explained.
One of the key research focuses is capsule shell materials for pharmaceutical products. Currently, some capsules still use porcine-based gelatin. The ITS Halal Center is conducting research on halal alternative materials, such as seaweed and aloe vera, as long-term solutions for the halal pharmaceutical industry.
According to Fredy, with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia has enormous market potential for the development of halal raw materials. Therefore, the contribution of universities is crucial in addressing public concerns regarding the halal status of products consumed by society.
The launch of the ITS Halal Center was marked by a national seminar featuring three keynote speakers: Ma’ruf Amin, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI); M. Roem Rowi, Professor at UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya; and Siti Aminah, Head of the Halal Products Subdirectorate, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
Through the establishment of the ITS Halal Center, ITS reaffirms its commitment to becoming a center of excellence in halal research, contributing to scientific advancement, halal material innovation, and the strengthening of industry and consumer protection at the national level.
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— The Directorate of Student Affairs of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) continues to strengthen