Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) have signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure halal products for the national nutrition program. This collaboration emphasizes a halal certification mechanism for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, stated that halal certification is an essential component of the program's governance. "The government not only guarantees nutritional quality but also builds public trust. With halal certification, every process of providing MBG is ensured to meet halal and tayyib standards," he said in an official statement on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

President Prabowo Subianto designated the MBG program as a national strategic project, coordinated by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas. According to Rachmat, this joint commitment requires the integration and collaboration of all ministries and agencies to ensure the comprehensive implementation of halal standards.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, stated that meeting nutritional needs is not just about food availability but also about meeting the halal aspects that are crucial for the majority of society. He said this synergy will both strengthen nutritional quality and provide halal assurance for the MBG service.

Currently, there are 7,475 service kitchens or Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) for the MBG program. The implementation of this memorandum ensures that all of these kitchens will have certified halal supervisors and that all menus will be halal-certified through the official mechanism.

This collaboration is a manifestation of the mandate of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance and Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024. Head of BPJPH, Ahmad Haikal Hasan, emphasized that this memorandum of understanding proves the government's commitment to prioritizing halal aspects.

"This is important because the MBG involves a long supply chain, from upstream to serving. Halal certification ensures that the quality, nutrition, and food safety are maintained," he said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2047486/indonesias-free-nutritious-meal-program-receives-halal-certificatio