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)