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MUI wants speedy debate of bill on halal products

NU Online  ·  Ahad, 25 Juli 2010 | 03:54 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on the House of Representatives and the government to speed up their deliberation of the bill on halal (permissible under Islamic law) products and pass it into law soon.
 
"The law is a must given the fact that Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world," MUI deputy chairman Amidhan Saberah said on the sidelines of the International Halal Business and Food Expo at the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta on Saturday.
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Amidhan said the law on halal products would benefit domestic producers because it would reduce the flood of imported goods.

"Tax or import duty restrictions will be unable to curb the influx of foreign goods into the country. But the flow can be restricted with the halal certification," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said Indonesia should learn from Malaysia, which requires Indonesian products to have halal certificates if they are to be marketed there.

"MUI is ready to provide inputs for the deliberation of the bill," he said.

But he reminded that MUI was the only authorized institution to endorse halal certificates.

The international halal business and food expo, as part of MUI’s efforts to promote halal food, will last until Sunday. (dar)