YLKI begins new debate over 'halal' certification

YLKI begins new debate over 'halal' certification

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)
proposed on Wednesday that foodstuff producers label products
with warnings alerting consumers to the fact that they contain
substances which are forbidden for consumption by Muslims.

Tini Hadad, a member of the Foundation's board of directors,
suggested that instead of the current system whereby products
have to obtain a halal certificate, permitting Muslim
consumption, through the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), it
would be more effective to place the onus on producers to label
their goods as being appropriate for Muslim consumption.

"There are obviously some haram (forbidden by Islam) food
products in the market, like those imported from Taiwan or Korea.
But there's no halal or haram label on the packaging," Tini told
journalists after a meeting with the House of Representatives'
Commission VI for Human Resources and Religious Affairs.

Islam bans the consumption of pork or any by-product derived
from pigs.

A haram label, Tini added, is especially important because the
MUI is unable to analyze all products going into the market due
to their limited resources.

"In the short term a haram label is the solution," Tini added.

The head of MUI's Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Analysis Body
(LPPOM MUI) Aisyah Girindra, however, rejected the suggestion,
telling legislators that if certain products use "haram labels,
it appears that all other products are automatically halal".

Despite MUI's limited resources, Aisyah maintained that for
now halal labeling is still the most appropriate measure.

Along with representatives from YLKI and MUI, Wednesday's
meeting was also attended by representatives of the Food and Drug
Control Body (BPOM).

A majority of legislators indicated during the meeting that
they were inclined to agree with Tini's suggestion, saying that
it would provide clearer information to the public.

MUI's guidance commission is the body ultimately responsible
for issuing halal certification.

Products seeking halal certification must first apply through
the BPOM office. After that LPPOM MUI will conduct an audit and
analysis. The report will then be presented before the MUI
commission to decide whether or not to issue certification.

The final step involves labeling by BPOM, who are responsible
for the food's safety and security.

Some 1,500 products currently possess the halal label, which
is valid for two years.

The issue of halal certification came to the fore recently
with the Ajinomoto taste enhancer controversy, when LPPOM MUI
declared the product was not halal because the company had used
substances derived from pigs in its Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
production process.

PT Ajinomoto Indonesia was forced to withdraw its products
from store shelves despite the fact that traces of pork were not
actually found in the final product.

Tini argued that the government should provide a clear
criteria for halal and haram.

"How are the producers supposed to know that they can't even
use a haram substance in its production process even though their
final product is halal?" she said.

Tini suggested that the halal certification be issued when
producers register their products with BPOM.

"Therefore, there's only a one-door policy. BPOM can
coordinate this with the MUI," she said.

The head of BPOM said they would leave the matter for the
government to decide.

MUI secretary Din Syamsuddin, meanwhile, demanded a revision
of article 30 of Law No. 7/1996 on food labeling and advertising.

The article stipulates, among other things, food producers and
distributors must obtain and use a halal label on the product.

"But item E of the law's explanation states that it is only
voluntary and not an obligation," Din told legislators.

It is stated in the explanation of the law that the halal
label is obligatory only if producers or distributors claim their
products are halal. (hdn)