YLKI begins new debate over 'halal' certification<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)
\nproposed on Wednesday that foodstuff producers label products
\nwith warnings alerting consumers to the fact that they contain
\nsubstances which are forbidden for consumption by Muslims.<\/p>\n
Tini Hadad, a member of the Foundation's board of directors,
\nsuggested that instead of the current system whereby products
\nhave to obtain a halal certificate, permitting Muslim
\nconsumption, through the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), it
\nwould be more effective to place the onus on producers to label
\ntheir goods as being appropriate for Muslim consumption.<\/p>\n
\"There are obviously some haram (forbidden by Islam) food
\nproducts in the market, like those imported from Taiwan or Korea.
\nBut there's no halal or haram label on the packaging,\" Tini told
\njournalists after a meeting with the House of Representatives'
\nCommission VI for Human Resources and Religious Affairs.<\/p>\n
Islam bans the consumption of pork or any by-product derived
\nfrom pigs.<\/p>\n
A haram label, Tini added, is especially important because the
\nMUI is unable to analyze all products going into the market due
\nto their limited resources.<\/p>\n
\"In the short term a haram label is the solution,\" Tini added.<\/p>\n
The head of MUI's Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Analysis Body
\n(LPPOM MUI) Aisyah Girindra, however, rejected the suggestion,
\ntelling legislators that if certain products use \"haram labels,
\nit appears that all other products are automatically halal\".<\/p>\n
Despite MUI's limited resources, Aisyah maintained that for
\nnow halal labeling is still the most appropriate measure.<\/p>\n
Along with representatives from YLKI and MUI, Wednesday's
\nmeeting was also attended by representatives of the Food and Drug
\nControl Body (BPOM).<\/p>\n
A majority of legislators indicated during the meeting that
\nthey were inclined to agree with Tini's suggestion, saying that
\nit would provide clearer information to the public.<\/p>\n
MUI's guidance commission is the body ultimately responsible
\nfor issuing halal certification.<\/p>\n
Products seeking halal certification must first apply through
\nthe BPOM office. After that LPPOM MUI will conduct an audit and
\nanalysis. The report will then be presented before the MUI
\ncommission to decide whether or not to issue certification.<\/p>\n
The final step involves labeling by BPOM, who are responsible
\nfor the food's safety and security.<\/p>\n
Some 1,500 products currently possess the halal label, which
\nis valid for two years.<\/p>\n
The issue of halal certification came to the fore recently
\nwith the Ajinomoto taste enhancer controversy, when LPPOM MUI
\ndeclared the product was not halal because the company had used
\nsubstances derived from pigs in its Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
\nproduction process.<\/p>\n
PT Ajinomoto Indonesia was forced to withdraw its products
\nfrom store shelves despite the fact that traces of pork were not
\nactually found in the final product.<\/p>\n
Tini argued that the government should provide a clear
\ncriteria for halal and haram.<\/p>\n
\"How are the producers supposed to know that they can't even
\nuse a haram substance in its production process even though their
\nfinal product is halal?\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tini suggested that the halal certification be issued when
\nproducers register their products with BPOM.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, there's only a one-door policy. BPOM can
\ncoordinate this with the MUI,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The head of BPOM said they would leave the matter for the
\ngovernment to decide.<\/p>\n
MUI secretary Din Syamsuddin, meanwhile, demanded a revision
\nof article 30 of Law No. 7\/1996 on food labeling and advertising.<\/p>\n
The article stipulates, among other things, food producers and
\ndistributors must obtain and use a halal label on the product.<\/p>\n
\"But item E of the law's explanation states that it is only
\nvoluntary and not an obligation,\" Din told legislators.<\/p>\n
It is stated in the explanation of the law that the halal
\nlabel is obligatory only if producers or distributors claim their
\nproducts are halal. (hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylki-begins-new-debate-over-halal-certification-1447893297",
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