Keep present system of 'halal' labeling<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ulemas Council's (MUI) recent pullout from a
\nteam deliberating a government draft decree on the labeling of
\nhalal products caused deep apprehension among Moslems. Tini Hadad
\nof the Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI) talked to The
\nJakarta Post about the topic.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you see the problem?<\/p>\n
Answer: I support MUI's decision. We cannot let manufacturers
\nput halal labels on their products, as they want to, without an
\nMUI halal certificate. Not all of them have the authority to do
\nso judging from the fact that not all of them are Moslems. MUI
\nhas the experts so let them handle the certification.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think it is necessary to regulate halal labeling?<\/p>\n
A: The new Law on Food (1996) indicates that halal labeling
\ncomes only as a voluntary act on the part of manufacturers. This
\nis based on their own interests rather than on the consumers'.
\nThere is no obligation for them to do so.<\/p>\n
So a government regulation requiring all food manufacturers to
\nuse halal labels would be a good step. It would ensure consumers'
\nright to get the right information about the food.<\/p>\n
Yet I think the current certification system is enough if it
\nis done by the Ministry of Health like the registration of food,
\nbeverages, medicine, and cosmetic products. Once a product is
\nlegally registered by the Ministry of Health, the manufacturer
\ndoesn't have to buy an additional label or sticker to put on
\nproduct packages to inform consumers it has been registered as a
\nhealthy food by the authority.<\/p>\n
By so doing there will be no additional funds needed to buy
\nthe sticker so there will also be no worries about consumers
\nbaring the burden of unnecessary product or promotion costs.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you trying to say you disagree with the government's
\nplan to apply halal stickers to food products?<\/p>\n
A: That's right. We agree with the plan to establish a
\ngovernment regulation on halal labeling. What we are very much
\nagainst is the plan to apply halal stickers, which it is presumed
\nwill cost Rp 10 (US$0.004) each, on every food product package.<\/p>\n
What we are afraid of is the negative effect of the
\nregulation. Although President Soeharto has said the labeling
\nshould not affect consumers, it is an impossible undertaking.<\/p>\n
I don't think there would be any manufacturer in the world
\nwhich would be willing to accept such a consequence all alone. As
\nfar as I know, all manufacturers are reluctant to allocate funds
\nfor the stickers.<\/p>\n
So, sooner or later, it will surely affect the price of
\nproducts. This, in turn, can cause high inflation for we have
\nmany more halal foods in the market than nonhalal ones,
\nremembering Moslems are the majority here.<\/p>\n
Q: Meaning...?<\/p>\n
A: This means the funds needed for the labeling will also be
\nmuch bigger.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you suggesting that nonhalal labeling is much more
\nefficient than halal labeling?<\/p>\n
A: Sure, nonhalal labeling would be much more efficient. But,
\nwe have already had that law. There's no need to discuss the
\nmatter right now.<\/p>\n
Once we had a regulation issued by the Ministry of Health
\nstating that every product containing pig or its derivatives had
\nto be labeled with a picture of a pig head informing people the
\nproduct was nonhalal. It lasted for only a couple of years. I
\ndon't have any idea why?.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you see a better way for consumers to be well informed
\nabout what they are buying without having to be burdened with
\nunnecessary expenses?<\/p>\n
A: By letting MUI do its job and give halal certificates to
\nthose who deserve it. Then, based on the certificate, the product
\nis given a special code or a notification number by MUI to be
\nprinted in each package. Just like what the Ministry of Health
\ndoes with its registration numbers.<\/p>\n
Halal labeling is a means of communication between the
\nmanufacturer and the consumer saying that a certain product is
\nhalal. So, the most important thing is that consumers get the
\nmessage, regardless of whether it is a separate sticker or
\nprinted on the package.<\/p>\n
On this point, printing the message -- which is done by the
\nmanufacturer -- is much easier, more practical, efficient and
\ncheaper than sticking a sticker on the package. Why don't we let
\nthem do that? Why go to the trouble of forming a special
\ninstitution to handle the stickers' production and distribution?<\/p>\n
Besides, it's not fair to MUI and the Ministry of Health. It's
\nMUI and the Ministry of Health which are issuing the registration
\nand the certificate. Why should somebody else get a financial
\nadvantage by just producing and selling the stickers?<\/p>\n
Q: How about the monitoring of the labeling? How do consumers
\nmake themselves sure that a halal label means a halal product?<\/p>\n
A: That's what I've been suggesting has to be made clear in
\nthe coming regulation. The monitoring has to be the
\nresponsibility of the Ministry of Health and MUI. As far as I
\nknow a halal certificate is given for two years. So, every two
\nyears it has to be renewed.<\/p>\n
Strict control is a real need here to monitor that no expired
\ncertificates are used. Monitoring is also needed during the two
\nyears a certificate is valid. Careful monitoring will prevent a
\nmanufacturer from using ingredients suspected to have pork
\ningredients like gelatin or shortening.<\/p>\n
According to YLKI's monitoring, we don't need to worry about
\ndomestic products. They all use vegetable oil. The ones that need
\nspecial attention are imported products. We are not sure if they
\nare free from pork ingredients. (swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keep-present-system-of-halal-labeling-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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