Put 'halal' labels on food seals: YLKI

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said the government should exercise strict control over food and drink packages labeled halal, or suitable for Moslems to consume.

The foundation's chief, Tini Hadad, said canned food and brewery producers should clearly mention the expiry date of their products on the label to ease the control.

"Once the ministry issues the certificate, it should begin strict and regular control to determine whether food and beverage packages or food and drinks found in restaurants bearing the label are really suitable for Moslems to consume," Tini told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Minister of Health Sujudi, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas Hasan Basri signed an agreement on June 21 which gives the authority to the Ministry of Health to issue the halal certificates.

She explained that the control is necessary to erase consumers' doubt about whether the food and drinks they are planning to buy are halal or not.

"Food is changing in its process, additional substances and even contents. Especially in restaurants," Tini said. "So, it's important to determine the validity period of each certificate before the ministry conducts the next examination of the products," she added.

She suggested that the government form an independent commission to determine whether a product can be considered halal for the consumers.

"The independent commission should not consist of ministry officials or MUI (Indonesian Council of Ulemas) only, but also experts on food and beverages," Tini said.

"We know that it's the government's right to issue the labeling, but they do not have enough food and beverage experts. The ministry can still issue the labeling, but let an independent commission do the examination," she added.

The Ministry of Health plans to set up a coordination team consisting of representatives from both of the ministry and MUI to determine whether a product can be considered halal.

Food producers or restaurant owners who want to participate in the labeling program should contact the Ministry of Health. The team will examine their products on site and in the laboratory. The result will be rechecked by MUI before it can be declared halal. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health will issue the labeling for the product based on MUI's recommendation.

Sujudi assured consumers that food producers would not raise their products' price, as the expenses for the labeling will be drawn from their promotion expenses.

"The ministry should really guarantee that the producers will not increase prices after the labeling," Tini said. (31)