Restaurants need `halal' label: Tourism office

Restaurants need `halal' label: Tourism office

JAKARTA (JP): The head of Jakarta Chapter of the Tourism
Office, Pudjo Basuki, said yesterday that all restaurants in the
city should ready themselves for the plan to place the halal
label on their doors or windows.

"According to Article 9 of the Tourism Law, the development of
tourism must be in line with religious teachings and local
customs," Pudjo said.

He added the halal (permitted by Islamic law) label will not
only give Moslems peace of mind when they enter a restaurant but
will also help make its business more lucrative.

However, Setyadi, an official of the Indonesian Hotel and
Restaurant Association (PHRI), said yesterday that if the
Indonesian Ulemas Council wants to impose the halal label it
still needs more comprehensive planning.

The step is not as easy to be implemented as issuing halal
certificates for the food products," said Sugeng.

Sugeng said that there are many things to consider before
implementing the policy. They include, for example, what kind of
restaurants require such a label and if there is a need for it,"
he said.

However, Sugeng said the idea was a good one, since it will
give Moslems peace of mind while eating in certain restaurants
such as those serving Chinese cuisine.

"I am afraid the policy will only make the permit business
more complicated," he said.

The idea is also supported by Tati S. Moerdono, an executive
of the Indonesian Caterer Service Association, saying that she
will propagate it among members of the association. She said that
it is the caterers' obligation to respect the Moslem's law on
food.

"Chinese food can still be delicious without using pork, which
Moslems cannot eat," Tati said.

Supportive

The government has been supportive of Islamic principles and
issued a presidential decree in 1991 which requires all food,
drinks, medicines and cosmetics manufacturers put the halal label
on their packaging.

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) has
approached the government to declare the institute as the sole
body which has the right to issue the halal certificate.

The LPPOM-MUI's director, Aisjah Girindra, told Kompas daily
recently that it is de facto the issuing agent of halal
certificates for 20 mass products, although the government has
not officially appointed them as such.

Aisjah said that the establishment of the institute was aimed
at helping the directorate general of food and beverage
supervision of the health ministry in its research on the halal
requirements for food products.

However, Aisjah said that the slow research process of the
directorate has made the institute take an initiative to start
its own research. (03)