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)