A helpful initiative

A helpful initiative

A unique scandal rocked this nation in 1988. Several local food products were said to contain pork fat. The rumors, which were triggered by an academic's findings in East Java, caused serious disquiet among the majority of Moslems and hit many food producers hard. This is understandable because the food products which were said to contain pork ranged from biscuits, milk and instant noodles to soy sauce. The public calmed down only after the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) ruled that products which the government had declared halal (edible according to Islamic law) should be considered so pending further investigation).

After the uproar many people thought a halal label for all food products was needed in order to prevent Moslems from inadvertently buying and consuming food that was forbidden under Islamic law. Such food does not only consist of pork but also includes carcasses, blood and the meat of animals slaughtered in the name of any deity other than Allah.

Simple as it may seem, providing the halal label is no easy job because food is produced not only by factories but also by restaurants and street vendors and all consumers deserve protection. MUI thus urged the government and the House of Representatives to pass a new law on food and beverages to replace the old one, which is no longer considered adequate. MUI also called for strict supervision of food products, not only in factories, but also in hotels, on planes and on ships. MUI also appealed to businesses engaged in food processing and marketing, especially those owned by Moslem business people, to supply halal foods and beverages.

The government was entirely responsive in the matter. In 1992 a decree was issued by President Soeharto, requiring all manufacturers of food products, beverages and cosmetics to put the halal label on their products' packages. This label was subsequently provided after the green light was received from the government's Directorate General for Food and Medicine Supervision. However, that agency does not seem to be big enough to carry out the supervision of food products in hotels and restaurants, not to speak of on ships and at roadside food stalls.

Realizing the difficulty of the situation, MUI's institute for the assessment of food, medicine and cosmetics this week issued its own halal certificates for various food products as well as for certain restaurants. It also introduced what it calls an "internal halal auditing program" in which auditors undergo in-house training at production facilities. They are responsible for reminding producers and restaurants to remain consistent in abiding by the halal conditions.

Although it lacks a legal basis, MUI's initiative should be viewed as an act of moral responsibility. It is indeed a positive measure, considering the government's limited ability to control all food products, especially in restaurants and food stalls. It will hopefully give Moslems the desired peace of mind because, unlike in Malaysia, for instance, most restaurants here which sell food which is forbidden for Moslems do not take the trouble to inform their Moslem customers of the fact.

The step taken by MUI will surely benefit restaurant owners, because even those which have issued their own halal labels may not really know what the halal designation actually involves. The MUI label will also protect true halal restaurants from unhealthy competition, with one dining establishment accusing another of selling food that is not halal under a self-made halal label.

It is hoped that MUI's action will spur the government to take a more active role in issuing halal certificates, which would be most helpful because the government has experts available and can more easily reach all corners of the country. And last but certainly not least it may be worth noting that the issuance of the halal certificates will in no way affect or inconvenience non-Moslems.