On 'halal' certification<\/p>\n
From Koran Tempo<\/p>\n
The issuance by the Minister of Religious Affairs of Decrees
\nNo.519\/2001 and No.525\/2001 on the appointment of the Agency for
\nthe Monitoring and Supervision of Foodstuffs and Drugs attached
\nto the Indonesian Ulemas Council (LPPOM-MUI) as the only agency
\ngiving halal (permitted by Islamic law) certificates, and the
\nchoice of State-owned security printing company (Perum Peruri) as
\nthe only company allowed to print halal labels has created an
\nunfair and illogical system of halal certification.<\/p>\n
Besides, these two decrees differ substantively from
\nGovernment Regulation No.69\/1999 on food labeling and advertising
\nas the regulation says that every food product with a halal label
\nis obliged to undergo checking by an accredited certification
\nagency. This is designed to ensure a transparent system of
\ncertification. After considering the advice of the religious
\ninstitution in question, the minister of religious affairs only
\nhas the duty of accreditation in this respect.<\/p>\n
The minister of religious affairs should have given his green
\nlight to some other certification institutions instead of
\nchoosing LPPOM-MUI as the only agency issuing halal certificates.
\nIn this regard, LPPOM-MUI has come to monopolize the halal
\ncertification.<\/p>\n
This monopoly system is likely to disadvantage consumers and
\nforce them to believe in just one certification agency. So, if
\nconsumers have any doubts about an audit conducted by the agency,
\nthey can do nothing.<\/p>\n
The current monopoly on the labeling system today has also
\nmade it easy for tricks to be played as regards the fee for the
\ncertification test. The fee is relatively high, especially for
\nsmall- and medium-scale producers. As a result, the price of
\nproducts will become higher at the consumer end. Besides, buyers
\nwill also have to cover the fees for uniformity of labeling by
\nPerum Peruri.<\/p>\n
Given the conditions referred to above, there is no other
\nchoice except to review the current certification systems and
\nregulations, and to decentralize the authority for halal
\ncertification to a number of institutions. In this way it will be
\npossible for people to select which institution they can trust
\nfor this purpose.<\/p>\n
AS'AD NUGROHO<\/p>\n
Consumers Advocacy Program Coordinator<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-halal-certification-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }