Government acts cautiously in 'halal' labeling debate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government signaled it was being cautious in
\ndeliberating the draft regulation that would give producers the
\nright to apply halal (edible in accordance with Islamic
\nteachings) labels on food products.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi said Saturday a number of state
\nagencies, including the ministries of industry, trade, and
\nreligious affairs as well as the Office of the State Minister of
\nFood, were still working to find solutions to the issue which has
\nbecome a source of sharp debate over the past two months.<\/p>\n
He pointed out the food labeling issue required careful
\ntranslation of religious rulings (fatwa). He did not mention a
\nspecific time frame.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said the question of halal labeling applied to domestic
\nfoods only. Imported foods are not subject to the same labeling.<\/p>\n
"Placing mandatory halal labels on all food imports could
\ncause conflict with the World Trade Organization's rules," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sujudi was commenting on an earlier call by the Indonesian
\nCouncil of Ulemas for the government to postpone deliberations as
\nthere were formulations not yet agreed to by the council.<\/p>\n
Chairman K.H. Hasan Basri said last week the council had
\nrecalled its representatives from a team to discuss the draft
\nregulation because there was pressure to adopt a clause obliging
\nfood producers to put halal labels on their products.<\/p>\n
If the council agreed to the clause, Hasan Basri said, food
\nproducers would then have the authority to put halal labels on
\ntheir products without the proper controls.<\/p>\n
The council now has a special agency -- known as the Institute
\nfor the Assessment of Food, Medicine and Cosmetics -- entrusted
\nwith the task of investigating and issuing halal certificates.<\/p>\n
He said that deliberations on the draft regulation should be
\nhalted immediately because the nation will have to concentrate on
\nthis year's general elections and the 1998 general session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly. Deliberations could be resumed in
\n1999, Hasan Basri suggested.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a breaking of the fast gathering Friday, Hasan
\nBasri expressed hope Golkar would fight the draft regulation,
\nwhich he said would harm consumers.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said Saturday his ministry would continue to inspect
\nexpiration dates of packaged foods and beverages found in gift
\nbaskets for the post-fasting holiday, Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
He said his ministry would tighten supervision of fruit and
\nvegetable imports, which would be inspected for freshness,
\npesticides and preservatives.<\/p>\n
Local fruit for the export market would also be subject to
\nsimilar procedures, he said. (01)<\/p>",
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