NU supports DPR to soon pass halal certification into law

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has supported the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately pass halal certification into law for the certification is to making sure that all products consumed by Indonesians are halal-certified.

Chairman of the PBNU Masykuri Abdillah made the remarks here Thursday, saying the government should be responsible for all halal-certified products, including food, drug and cosmetic for considering that the majority of Indonesians are Muslims.<>

"We also fully support such efforts to pass the halal certification into law," Maykuri said, adding that halal in this regard was halal in the substance and the process and "the halal certification is not discriminative".

Responding to those who are opposed to the halal certification bill, Masykuri said that it was understandable because Indonesia is a democratic country.

While secretary of the lawmaking body of the PBNU KH Nazaruddin Umar recently said that "in the future, halal certification will be a must".

According to Nazaruddin, the bill – which consists of twelve chapters and 44 articles – is aimed at ensuring food, beverage, drug, cosmetic, chemical products and derivative or exported products are allowed to be consumed by the people.

"That aims to make us secure in consuming the products," he asserted.

Currently, applying for a halal certification is based on the voluntary initiative of business entities that register their products with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to obtain the certificate.

The MUI cooperates with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Examination Institute (LPPOM) in examining the ingredient of the products before being certified.

"This means there is no legal punishment for those who are not registering their products," explains Nazaruddin. (min)