Having LPH, UMM Prepares Competent Students in the Field of Safe and Halal Food

Seeing the needs of the majority Muslim community of Indonesia, the security of halal products cannot be separated again. Starting from food products, medicines and cosmetics. The rise of products that have not been clearly halal is a challenge for Muslim consumers.

Concerned about this phenomenon, University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) as a leading Muslim university paid special attention to the halalness of the product. Collaborating with Muhammadiyah Central Executive (PP) Muhammadiyah, UMM has established Halal Inspection Agency (hence forth LPH) as one of the efforts to build public awareness regarding the importance of halal products.

"Indeed, Indonesian people, sorry, not many who are conscious need halal products," said Elfi.

Dr. Ir. Elfi Anis Saati, MP, lecturer of Food Technology Science (ITP), is one of the figures who plays a role in the standing and running of LPH UMM. After LPH UMM was established, a new curriculum was established to achieve the mission and vision of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (FPP), which is to develop halal-thoyib (halal and good) food technology.

In 2018, because of the curriculum is finally formed a new course of Management of Safe and Halal Food (hence forth MPAH). UMM became the only campus that has this curriculum in Indonesia. The MPAH course contains materials supported by study or suvey, halal tourism at the end of lecture at company, UKM, hotel, hospital, catering, restaurant, boarding school, dormitory, hall to full day school.

Elfi explained that there are several requirements to establish a Halal Inspection Agency (LPH). Firstly, having its own offices. Secondly, having at least three MUI certified halal auditors. Lastly, having or cooperating with an accredited laboratory.

"So I'm trying to get an accredited lab first," explained Elfi.

After two years running slowly, Elfi's goal to get an accredited laboratory was done. On September 2017, she finally achieved ISO 17025. She admitted that laboratory accreditation is more complicated than the department accreditation because considering two things, namely aspects of management and technical aspects.

"Right now, I'm fanning some labs for preparing halal tests like alcohol, lard, and pig DNA," she concluded.