Muslims protest 'halal' label

Muslims protest 'halal' label

JAKARTA: The Muslim Consumers Foundation (YLKM) has threatened
to file a class action lawsuit against the ministry of religious
affairs if it goes ahead with its plan to label halal food with
stickers.

The foundation also called on the government to revoke
Ministerial Decree No. 518/2001 on the use of stickers, saying
the move would only burden consumers with higher prices for the
products.

"Indonesian consumers are already hard-pressed as prices of
basic commodities have skyrocketed following the fuel price
hike," YLKM Chairman Bambang S.L. said on Tuesday.

The foundation particularly objected to aspects of the decree
which obliged manufacturers to use halal stickers on their
products, arguing that a company might have to make additional
investments on sticker making.

"Halal labeling is important but utilizing stickers for
labeling is unnecessary," Bambang said.

Earlier, a number of legislators demanded the ministry drop
its plan to issue halal stickers, saying that the Indonesian
Council of Ulemas (MUI) has been doing the job free of charge. --
JP