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Indonesia: Dispute over Hallal Certificates


MUI, an umbrella organization founded by the government in 1975, is “intended to facilitate interactions between the secular Indonesian state and the majority Muslim community, encourage the involvement of religious authorities in national development, and enable interfaith cooperation. The group issues religious rulings on a variety of topics, ranging from public policies to popular culture.” (Council of Indonesian Ulama, supra.)



Halal certificates can be issued to food and other businesses; halal status means that the animals involved were slaughtered, and resulting products manufactured, in accordance with Islamic law and therefore are lawful for Muslims to purchase and use. (Id.) The word “halal” comes from Arabic and means lawful or permitted. (What is Halal?, IFANCA website (last visited Mar. 3, 2014).) The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) notes that while halal is a universal term that could apply “to all facets of life,” it is used in relation to “food products, meat products, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients and food contact materials.” (Id.)

Who Should Issue Halal Certificates?


In response, Ma’ruf Amin, MUI’s Deputy Chairman, argued that MUI should not be considered similar to other Islamic groups because it is “not a civil organization.” He described it as “a union of a sort, representing a number of civil organizations.” (Sihalol, supra.) Amin added that MUI has been in charge of the certifications for 25 years, that the income was not the main concern of the organization, and that “we only want to protect Muslims.” (Id.)

Should Certification Be Required?
