Government acts cautiously in 'halal' labeling debate

JAKARTA (JP): The government signaled it was being cautious in deliberating the draft regulation that would give producers the right to apply halal (edible in accordance with Islamic teachings) labels on food products.

Minister of Health Sujudi said Saturday a number of state agencies, including the ministries of industry, trade, and religious affairs as well as the Office of the State Minister of Food, were still working to find solutions to the issue which has become a source of sharp debate over the past two months.

He pointed out the food labeling issue required careful translation of religious rulings (fatwa). He did not mention a specific time frame.

Sujudi said the question of halal labeling applied to domestic foods only. Imported foods are not subject to the same labeling.

"Placing mandatory halal labels on all food imports could cause conflict with the World Trade Organization's rules," he said.

Sujudi was commenting on an earlier call by the Indonesian Council of Ulemas for the government to postpone deliberations as there were formulations not yet agreed to by the council.

Chairman K.H. Hasan Basri said last week the council had recalled its representatives from a team to discuss the draft regulation because there was pressure to adopt a clause obliging food producers to put halal labels on their products.

If the council agreed to the clause, Hasan Basri said, food producers would then have the authority to put halal labels on their products without the proper controls.

The council now has a special agency -- known as the Institute for the Assessment of Food, Medicine and Cosmetics -- entrusted with the task of investigating and issuing halal certificates.

He said that deliberations on the draft regulation should be halted immediately because the nation will have to concentrate on this year's general elections and the 1998 general session of the People's Consultative Assembly. Deliberations could be resumed in 1999, Hasan Basri suggested.

Speaking at a breaking of the fast gathering Friday, Hasan Basri expressed hope Golkar would fight the draft regulation, which he said would harm consumers.

Sujudi said Saturday his ministry would continue to inspect expiration dates of packaged foods and beverages found in gift baskets for the post-fasting holiday, Idul Fitri.

He said his ministry would tighten supervision of fruit and vegetable imports, which would be inspected for freshness, pesticides and preservatives.

Local fruit for the export market would also be subject to similar procedures, he said. (01)