MUSLIMS MUST GET HALAL WARRANTY

       Brebes, 20 Ramadan 1434/20 July 2013 (MINA) – A Member of Indonesian Parliament Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi said the Indonesian government is obliged to provide protection for the citizens to get halal products.

       It is a fundamental right for Indonesian Muslims to get products, either food or any other product which is not haram.

      “Muslims are deserved to get a warranty that their foods are halal, and the warranty must be given by the government,” Tauhid said during a visit in recess activities (working visit) in Brebes, Central Java, on Sunday (28/7 ).

        Nowadays food products, clothing, cosmetics, and many others are unknown whether halal or not. Because there is no legal framework that requires every manufacturer filed a halal certification.

      “Institutions that provide halal certification already exists, but does not have a legal framework that requires all certified products,” Tauhid said who officiate in the House of Representatives Commission IV.

       Halal certification is currently voluntary, it means that manufacturers do not have to register their products to get halal certificate. Though many products which are consumed by Muslim are unclear about their halal status.

      “For example, drinking water product, if the process of purity using materials derived from animal bone which is haram, of course this is not halal to be consumed,” Tauhid said.

       Tauhid is one of members in Indonesian Parliament in charge of agriculture, and plantations. In an interview  with Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) reporter he said that law about legislation of halal products are now being discussed, finalized and will be enacted immediately.

       The halal assurance must be voluntary, meaning that there is no obligation to apply for halal certification by manufacturers in every product.

       “It means every manufacturer filed the certification to get a halal label on its products,” he said. (L/P05/B01/P02/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)