Liao Jianyu

In the past year, Chinese products have been selling well in Indonesian cities in Indonesia.However, on January 5 this year, a group of people who claimed to care about Muslim teaching rules were demonstrated in front of the Mijue Ice Cream Store in Chituni, Jakarta.Halal) Foods, Muslims to resist honey snow drinks.

Honey snow ice cream is produced by "Honey Snow Ice City" of Chinese beverage companies.The company was founded by Zhang Hongchao in 1997.He started to operate a small ice shop in Zhengzhou, Henan, and later changed his career to do ice cream and tea business. He officially joined the outside world in 2007.During the Olympic Games in China, Mixue Ice City began to set up chain stores in many places across the country to sell ice cream and tea, and gradually received attention.Mixue Ice City has become a well -known ice cream and tea brand in China, with chain stores in third- and fourth -tier cities.

Business develops overseas, around 2020.But due to the raging crown disease, its development overseas was blocked.However, according to the business report of Mixue Bingcheng, as of March 31, 2022, there were as many as 566 Mixue stores in Vietnam and Indonesia.However, according to Indonesia's social media, as of December 2022, Mixue's chain stores have 692 in Indonesia.

Honey Snow Ice City's Honey Snow Company in Indonesia is called PT ZHI Sheng Pacific Trading Co., which provides franchise rights.According to Indonesian social media reports, its franchise fee joining fee is about 8008 million shields (about S $ 71,000), which later decreased to 300 million shields.The ice cream sold by Honey Snow is popular and the style is diverse. The lowest price is egg roll ice cream, priced at 80,000 shields (about 8 cents).

The price of ice cream of other brands is lower than honey snow, and some are more expensive than honey snow.However, it is said that honey snow ice cream is cheap and good -looking, with good reputation, and the stores are everywhere, so they finally achieved a leading position.In addition, Mixue also launched many products, including tea and other drinks.In just one or two years, honey snow drinks have become the darling of young consumers in Indonesia.

The rise of the forces of the Muslims and Breeding "halal certification"

Indonesia is a country with many Muslims.If any food is accepted by the Indonesian people, you must have a "halal certification", otherwise Muslims may not dare to buy it.The history of "halal certification" is not too long in Indonesia.In the 1990s, due to the rise of Indonesia's political Muslim, the Islamic Missionary Council (MUI, Irah) proposed the concept of "halal certification", but it began to appear, but it was non -mandatory.

However, when President Youdoro served as President (2004 to 2014), he was allowed to develop for the forces of Muslim. Even before he stepped down in 2014, a decree related to the "halal certification" stipulatedDiets must be applied for certification, and unlicensed products do not meet Muslim trainers.

The institution that has issued certification is Yilihui.The Ioli will be founded in Suhador, the purpose is to control the Muslim organization.After Suhado fell down, the forces of this organization were strengthened, becoming an organization enjoying religious authority, and continued to issue the only institution of "halal certification".To obtain certification, merchants must pay fees, and the price is determined by Yili.This income has become the most important source of economic sources of the Irah Council, and has not been paid to the country.

Yili will be composed of Muslim missionaries from various Muslim organizations, and directly participate in political activities after Suhado fell down.In the incident of overthrowing the former Jakarta chief, Zhong Wanxue, it played an important role.In the 2019 presidential election, Zoko also launched Vice President Marufa Amin, who was launched by the chairman of the Iraqi Council and the chairman of the IIII.However, then Zoko rectified the Irah Society, began to deal with the extremists, and moved the power of "halal certification" to the Indonesian religious department.However, in the institution of censorship, the Iiri Council is still one of the important units.

The procedures for applying for "halal certification" are quite complicated and must pass through many institutions and departments.Some people think that this may be to ask manufacturers for more costs.

When responding to the reporter's application for certification by the reporter of the Luo Pan, the head of the Fatwa department, the head of the Fatwa department, explained that Mixue's application is still under review.Achi Ich Ilhan, the head of the Institute of Religious Food Certification (BPJPH), also confirmed that at this stage, Mixue's products are still being inspected by the Muslim Food Review Bureau (LPH).

LPH will give the review results to the BPJPH of the Ministry of Religion, and BPJPH will give the review results to the Irah Council, and then the Irah Council will convene a meeting within 30 working days to determine whether the product meets the trainers.Only by obtaining the recommendation of the Iravian Council, the BPJPH of the Ministry of Religion issued certification.Applicants must pay the cost set by the Ministry of Religious.

The mystery of the delay of the approved approval of the honey snow

Indonesia Mixue has publicly acknowledged that there is no "halal certification", but it does not mean that Mixue's ice cream is "drinking drinks that use incompatible trainers."The company said that the materials they use are in line with Muslim education regulations (including alcohol -free and lard).The company also explained that Mixue started applying for "halal certification" as early as 2021, but has not yet been approved.

Yili did not respond to why it takes so long."Halal certification" has not been issued, a bit strange.

ADE Armano (ADE Armando) proposes a series of questions on the video on January 6.He believes that it is difficult to obtain "halal certification", which will affect the confidence of investing in business in Indonesia, which is not good for Indonesia's economic development.He questioned that someone launched a demonstration to resist honey snow ice cream, based on commercial competition, or is there an internal affairs?How can the application application for so long?

Almando pointed out that in fact, the decree in 2014 has been replaced by the 2020 entrepreneurial work law.The new law simplifies the application procedures for "halal certification".The application procedures must be completed within one working day, and the product review must be completed within 15 working days.According to this decree, in addition to the Irah Council, other qualified Muslim groups can also check whether the commodities are in compliance with the trainers.If this regulation is truly implemented, it will greatly shorten the approval time of certification.

However, Almando said that the material of the honey snow drink comes from China, so it may be more complicated and it takes more time to complete the test.Even so, it will not take nearly two years.

From the perspective of the honey snow ice cream incident, the implementation of the "halal certification" in Indonesia is not smooth.As Almando said, this will hinder Indonesia's foreign investment and affect economic development and the benefits of the people.

The author is Singapore's Yusov Isa East South Asian Research Institute

Senior visiting researcher

Nanyang Institute of Technology Rajele South International Research

Part -time professor