Muslim consumers' body calls for 'halal' certification agency
Muslim consumers' body calls for 'halal' certification agency
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Muslim Consumers Foundation
(YLKM) has called for the establishment of a national
standardization agency to issue halal certificates indicating
that a product is fit for consumption by Muslims.
YLKM chairman Bambang Sabar Irawan said on Wednesday that such
an agency could reduce irregularities in the issuance of
certificates, which is at present solely handled by the
Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).
Bambang also questioned MUI's credibility in assessing whether
or not a product or service is halal or haram (not allowed
according to Islamic law) as it does not have an independent
laboratory.
"MUI does the auditing, while the labeling itself is in the
hands of the Ministry of Health. It has happened many times that
a business has concocted the audit result and deceived the
council in order to get a halal label for its products.
"So it's necessary to reform the system, mechanism and the
regulation on certification," he told a media briefing as he
announced the foundation's plan to sue taste enhancer producer PT
Ajinomoto.
YLKM's lawyer Maheswara Prabandono from Warens and Achyar Law
Firm said that the foundation was demanding that the company pay
punitive damages to Muslims.
Ajinomoto taste enhancer was recalled after the MUI questioned
its production process which uses an extract derived from pigs
instead of from cows to develop an enzyme needed in the
manufacturing of monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Islam forbids the consumption of pork or its byproducts.
He said that since the company had begun using the enzyme
before renewing its product certificate, Ajinomoto had violated
Consumer Protection Law No. 8/1999.
"In our opinion, Muslims have been deceived by Ajinomoto," he
said, adding that the lawsuit would be filed next week.
Bambang said he money would be used to establish an
independent laboratory to ensure that a product was edible or
could be used by Muslim consumers. (bby)