{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1097300,
        "msgid": "muslim-consumers-body-calls-for-halal-certification-agency-1447893297",
        "date": "2001-01-18 00:00:00",
        "title": "Muslim consumers' body calls for 'halal' certification agency",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Muslim consumers' body calls for 'halal' certification agency JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Muslim Consumers Foundation (YLKM) has called for the establishment of a national standardization agency to issue halal certificates indicating that a product is fit for consumption by Muslims. YLKM chairman Bambang Sabar Irawan said on Wednesday that such an agency could reduce irregularities in the issuance of certificates, which is at present solely handled by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).",
        "content": "<p>Muslim consumers' body calls for 'halal' certification agency<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Muslim Consumers Foundation<br>\n(YLKM) has called for the establishment of a national<br>\nstandardization agency to issue halal certificates indicating<br>\nthat a product is fit for consumption by Muslims.<\/p>\n<p>YLKM chairman Bambang Sabar Irawan said on Wednesday that such<br>\nan agency could reduce irregularities in the issuance of<br>\ncertificates, which is at present solely handled by the<br>\nIndonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).<\/p>\n<p>Bambang also questioned MUI's credibility in assessing whether<br>\nor not a product or service is halal or haram (not allowed<br>\naccording to Islamic law) as it does not have an independent<br>\nlaboratory.<\/p>\n<p>\"MUI does the auditing, while the labeling itself is in the<br>\nhands of the Ministry of Health. It has happened many times that<br>\na business has concocted the audit result and deceived the<br>\ncouncil in order to get a halal label for its products.<\/p>\n<p>\"So it's necessary to reform the system, mechanism and the<br>\nregulation on certification,\" he told a media briefing as he<br>\nannounced the foundation's plan to sue taste enhancer producer PT<br>\nAjinomoto.<\/p>\n<p>YLKM's lawyer Maheswara Prabandono from Warens and Achyar Law<br>\nFirm said that the foundation was demanding that the company pay<br>\npunitive damages to Muslims.<\/p>\n<p>Ajinomoto taste enhancer was recalled after the MUI questioned<br>\nits production process which uses an extract derived from pigs<br>\ninstead of from cows to develop an enzyme needed in the<br>\nmanufacturing of monosodium glutamate (MSG).<\/p>\n<p>Islam forbids the consumption of pork or its byproducts.<\/p>\n<p>He said that since the company had begun using the enzyme<br>\nbefore renewing its product certificate, Ajinomoto had violated<br>\nConsumer Protection Law No. 8\/1999.<\/p>\n<p>\"In our opinion, Muslims have been deceived by Ajinomoto,\" he<br>\nsaid, adding that the lawsuit would be filed next week.<\/p>\n<p>Bambang said he money would be used to establish an<br>\nindependent laboratory to ensure that a product was edible or<br>\ncould be used by Muslim consumers. (bby)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-consumers-body-calls-for-halal-certification-agency-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}