'Halal' labels

'Halal' labels

From Republika

Moslem society has for years recognized halal products only by looking at the word "halal" written on the package. This halal mark is OK, because the Indonesian Council of Ulemas must have examined the products.

However, lately, the issue of halal products has come to the fore again because of the plan to put halal stickers on the packages of products. This plan is analogous to a virus. This is because viruses, being extremely small, could cause a great deal of damage to the human body. So commercialization of halal stickers would only tarnish religious values. Islam is a blessing, and halal labeling should not cause an additional financial burden to the people. The producers should raise the prices of their products to compensate for the cost they bear to have the halal labels.

SOESILANTO

Jakarta