American Beef Gets The Green Light To Indonesia

U.S. beef recently regained access to Indonesia as a barrier over halal certification was cleared.

“March this year, the BPJPH, the Indonesian authority in charge of the halal certification, raised a question about one of the halal certifiers based in Omaha," said U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President for Asia Pacific Jihae Yang.  "And they questioned about, is it compliant to the Indonesian requirement? And from their finding from the plant audit, which is not a halal certified plant, but unfortunately they canceled the accreditation to the halal certifying body.”

She noted there is only one Halal certifying body who issued certificates for export to Indonesia.  So that resulted in the de facto suspension of U.S. beef since then.

Indonesia Has Great Potential

Last year, Indonesia imported $93 million of U.S. beef.  Cattlemen's Beef Board CEO Greg Hanes said that number is expected to grow since this hurdle has been cleared.

"Southeast Asia, and especially Indonesia, have tons of opportunity for the U.S. beef industry," Hanes said.  "They have a high population. They have a developing economy, more disposable income to be able to spend on good food and high-quality products. Their cold chain infrastructure is getting developed so that they can get the products, both frozen products and even air ship fresh products into the market. And the consumers there seem to really enjoy the product when they try it.”

Hanes added with the halal issues resolved, he’s confident this will mean good things for the American beef producer.

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