Halal label prone to corruption

Halal label prone to corruption

JAKARTA: The ministry of religious affairs will soon form a
working team to modify three decisions it issued earlier on the
implementation of the halal label for food and drink products.

The modification announcement came despite strong opposition
from the House of Representatives (DPR) and a Muslim consumers
association who alleged that the halal label would only burden
consumers at large and create the opportunity for more nepotism,
collusion and corruption.

"We agreed to set up a working team to remedy the religious
affairs minister's decrees," religious affairs ministry secretary
general Faisal Ismail said here on Tuesday after a meeting
discussing the halal label issue.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the
health ministry's Food and Medicine Supervisory Board (POM), the
Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, the National Accreditation
Commission, the Association of Indonesian Food and Drink
Businesspeople and a number of non-governmental organizations.

Issued in 2001, the three ministerial decisions concern the
guidelines and procedures of halal food inspection, the halal
food inspection agency and the appointment of a state-owned
company to print halal stickers. -- Antara