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)