Indonesia strives for `halal' food labeling

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)