Product certification is an activity that needs to be carried out to assess product conformity with certain standards and characteristics. By owning this certificate, it means that your business products comply with the requirements and standards set out in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).
For those of you who are interested in knowing more about this topic, the following will discuss the benefits and various types of product certification that are enforced in Indonesia. Check out the full explanation of the points below.
The Importance of Product Certification
The product certification process is carried out by assessing the fulfillment of the requirements referring to the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization or ISO.
Businesses with certified products will certainly have their own added value. It is important for those of you who are planning a product manufacturing business to know about product certification.
In the following, we will explain the importance of product certification and its benefits from the point of view of consumers as well as from companies and industries.
1. For Consumers
For consumers, product certification has a more secure security value. This is because a product that already has this certification means that it has passed an assessment in order to get an official label.
Thus, the possibility of losses by consumers can also be minimized because the products have passed the test and proven quality. Most consumers also tend to prefer products that already have certificates compared to those that don’t have them.
2. For Companies and Industry
Besides being important to consumers, ownership product certification also, of course provides benefits for companies and industries. Ownership of certificates for the products offered by the company is a marker and also written evidence regarding quality assurance and quality. To be able to get these benefits, you need to choose the type of certification that best suits your company’s needs.
For example, having SNI certification if you want the product you are marketing to meet the standard requirements and also adjust the quality assurance set by Indonesia.
To get certified for products and services for the business you run, you need to do this with a test party that has been proven to offer objective and professional services.
The difference between Product Certification and Product Testing
After discussing the importance of having product certification, you also need to know the difference between product testing and certification. Here’s an explanation.
1. Based on Results
You can see the first difference between testing and product certification from the results. If the test issues result in the form of a report on the tested sample, product certification issues result in the form of a certificate that can be used as a written guarantee regarding the overall quality of the product.
2. Based on Parameters
You can differentiate product testing and certification based on the parameters of both. In product testing, the parameters used are generally adjusted to the request of the manufacturer.
While in certification, the parameters used refer to a standard determined by a third-party certification service provider.
3. Based on Validity Period
The results of product testing have a validity period during the production of certain goods. While the validity period of certification results can generally last up to 3 or 4 years.
4. Based on Labeling
You can also differentiate tests with product certification based on both labels. In product testing, there is no label used on the product being tested.
While in certification, there is a label that is used on products that have passed the assessment. The SNI label on the product packaging is an example of a product certification label.
If you want to get certification for a product that will be marketed, it is important to be highly recommended to be selective in choosing a party to be trusted to carry out the certification service. This is intended so that the results of your product certification can be more accurate and reliable.
4 Types of Product Certification and Their Functions
As previously mentioned, to get a product certification that you want to market, you need to make sure which certification meets your needs and which is a mandatory requirement for your product. Therefore,
The following will discuss the various types of certification that apply in Indonesia.
1. Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI)
SNI is also known as the Indonesian National Standard. Indonesian National Standard Certification is a certification that provides an assessment that recognizes that product quality has officially complied with the requirements specified in the national standards in Indonesia.
SNI is the only standard that applies nationally in Indonesia. This standard is formulated by the Technical Committee and stipulated by the National Standardization Body (BSN).
2. Halal Certification
Certification Halal generally enforced on products like Food/beverages, cosmetics, and medicines. Products that have been certified halal mean that they have written guarantees that the products being marketed are proven to have been produced in a halal way.
The Halal Certificate is valid since it was issued by BPJPH (Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body) and remains valid as long as there is no change in the composition of the Halal Product Material and/or Process.
If there is a change in the material composition and/or product process that has received a Halal Certificate, you must renew the certificate.
3. Home Industry Food Product Certification (SPP-IRT)
SPP-IRT applies to food and beverage products from home industries that are sold in retail. This SPP-IRT is given by the mayor or local regent if the home industry product meets the applicable standards.
To get this product certification, you must meet the following basic qualifications:
- The place of business is allowed to merge with the place of residence
- Processed food produced manually to semi-automatically
- Types of PIRT food refer to the appendix to BPOM Regulation No 22 of 2018 concerning Guidelines for Issuing PIRT Production Certificates
Processed food that can be registered as a PIRT is listed in Appendix II to the Regulation of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency Number 22 of 2018 concerning Guidelines for Issuing Certificates for Household Industry Food Production).
4. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) Certification
The HACCP certificate is one of the certificates that must be owned by producers in the food industry sector. HACCP certification is a systematic approach to determine food safety hazards and implement controls to ensure products are safe for consumption.
The audit criteria for HACCP certification are in accordance with the specific requirements of KAN.K-07.03, namely SNI CAC/RCP 1:2011, which is identical to the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969 Rev.04-2003). The standard regulates a series of food chains from primary production (on farms) to final consumption, emphasizing the control of the principles of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Product certification can make it easier for your business to market products with guaranteed quality and safety. Sucofindo can be one of the service options for those of you who are looking for a third party to issue certification for business products in accordance with national and international regulations. In addition, the scope of product certification issued by Sucofindo has also received national accreditation.
