Government acts cautiously in 'halal' labeling debate

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)