Commemorating National Santri Day, ITS Strengthens the Readiness of the Halal Product Assurance Ecosystem

[Surabaya, October 22, 2026] — In commemoration of National Santri Day 2026, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) organized the 29th Halal Supervisor Training Program on October 20–22, 2026. The program was part of ITS’s efforts to strengthen human resource capacity while supporting the development of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance (JPH) ecosystem.

The program was officially opened by Fadlilatul Taufany, S.T., Ph.D., Director of the Directorate of Research and Community Engagement (DRPM) ITS, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The training received support from various stakeholders, including the East Java Regional Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KDEKS), Bank Indonesia (BI), relevant Regional Government Organizations (OPD), as well as ITS Product-Based Community Engagement (Abmas) and ITS Priority Abmas programs.

Strengthening Halal Readiness

The training was held amid the government’s adjustment of the implementation timeline for mandatory halal certification. Previously, several halal certification requirements were scheduled to take effect on October 18, 2024, under Government Regulation (PP) No. 31 of 2019, and were subsequently adjusted to October 18, 2026, under PP No. 42 of 2024.

“Through PP No. 40 of 2026, the implementation period for mandatory halal certification for food, beverage, slaughtered products, and slaughtering services has been extended until October 17, 2028, meaning that the requirement will take effect on October 18, 2028. This additional time should be utilized by businesses to strengthen halal literacy, prepare their production processes, and consistently implement the Halal Product Assurance System (SJPH),” said Prof. Setiyo Gunawan, Head of the ITS Halal Study Center.

The adjustment also covers food, beverage, slaughtered products, and slaughtering services originating from abroad, with mandatory halal certification scheduled to take effect on October 18, 2028, taking into consideration the completion of mutual recognition arrangements for halal certificates or Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs).

However, the adjustment does not mean that all halal certification requirements have been postponed until 2028. Different product categories have different implementation timelines and requirements.

Halal certification should also not be viewed solely as a regulatory obligation. Proper implementation of a halal system can contribute to improving product quality, consumer assurance, market trust, and the competitiveness of Indonesia’s halal industry.

National Santri Day and a Stronger Halal Ecosystem

The National Santri Day context adds particular significance to the program. Values such as trustworthiness, discipline, integrity, and concern for the public good, which are closely associated with pesantren education, are highly relevant to the responsibilities of Halal Supervisors.

These values can serve as a foundation for conducting thorough supervision, reporting findings honestly, and promoting continuous improvement. In this way, the spirit of santri service can be translated into professional contributions to ensure that products available to the public comply with halal principles and requirements.

The occasion also highlights the potential role of santri in developing the halal industry ecosystem. Supported by technical competencies and religious understanding, santri can contribute to business management, halal literacy, implementation of production practices that meet halal requirements, and the development of pesantren-based enterprises and MSMEs.

Through the Halal Supervisor Training Program, ITS aims to develop competent and professional halal human resources while strengthening collaboration among universities, government institutions, halal organizations, industry, pesantren, and communities to build an Indonesian halal ecosystem that is credible, inclusive, and sustainable.