Indonesia strives for `halal' food labeling
JAKARTA (JP): While many countries are trying to impose eco- labeling for imported products, the predominantly Moslem Indonesians are busy approaching food, beverage and drug producers to have their products labeled halal (permitted by Islam.)
Moslems, who comprise an estimated 85 percent of Indonesia's 185 million people, consider consumer products containing certain substances, such as pork, haram, or not permitted under Islamic doctrine.
The demand for halal labeling rose following major unrest in 1988, triggered by an East Java academic's finding that many food products, including biscuits and milk, contained pork.
The government has been supportive of the Moslem cause and issued a presidential decree in 1991 requiring all food, drink, medicine and cosmetics manufacturers put the halal label on their products' packages.
In line with the increasing demand for labeled food nationwide, the Institute for the Study on Food, Medicine and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (LPPOM - MUI) in cooperation with PT Kompass Indonesia, an exhibition organizer, held a five-day International Halal Food and Technology Exhibition (Inhafex 1994), which ended yesterday.
The exhibition, which was opened by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, was meant to meet the public demand on accurate and quick information on the nature of consumer products from Islamic point of view.
About 62 companies, six of them from Iran, India, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, took part in the exhibition, Yoke S.A. Simbolon, spokeswoman for PT Kompass Indonesia said.
She said that not all of the exhibition participants have been able to put the halal label on their products because of time constraints in the labeling processes.
PT Siantar Top, a candy producer, obtained the halal certificate from MUI only two days before the exhibition started last Wednesday.
Aisyah Girindra, LPPOM-MUI director told The Jakarta Post that the delay in halal labeling might be because the government has to take time to consider several things, such as import and export policies before allowing a producer to put the label on its product's package.
"The government seemed so slow in processing the halal labeling of a product," Aisjah said.
Aisjah said the establishment of the institute was mainly aimed to help the government in undergoing the investigative research on the halal requirement for food products.
"Meanwhile, the public demand on the availability of halal products could not be delayed," Aisjah said.
Better share
She said MUI then took the initiative to start investigative research without waiting for the completion of similar research already undertaken by the Directorate General for Food and Beverage Supervision, at the Ministry of Health.
Aisjah said the institute is not involved in the halal labeling because the responsibility is currently with the Ministry of Health. LPPOM - MUI only issues certificate of halal for the products.
The government could then approve the halal labeling based on LPPOM's recommendations.
Among those many participants who believed that labeling would increase their market share was Indofood, an instant noodle producer and PT Siantar Top, a candy maker.
An Indofood official said the halal labeled products were very important for his marketing strategies in domestic and foreign markets.
"We expect our sales will increase after labeling on our products," a Siantar Top official said.
Meanwhile, a participant from Iran complained about the implementation of the exhibition and Indonesia's unclear regulation on customs and duties for foreign companies interested in investing in Indonesia.(02)