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