Instead Of Making A Fuss, NU Figures: Halal Label Doesn't Need To Exist, There Are Arguments Already, That's All It's Like, Why Bother!

Deputy Head of Syuriah for the DKI Jakarta Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Management (PWNU), Taufik Damas. (Twitter/@TaufikDamas)

JAKARTA - The new label contained in the official halal certificate has been issued, as well as changing the design made by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). The polemic then arose because the design was considered not to feature Arabic letters.

Deputy Head of Syuriah for the DKI Jakarta Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) Regional Administrator, Taufik Damas, views that there is no need to make a fuss about the halal label.

For him, the halal label is not important because food, drink, or products that can be consumed or not for Muslims are already in the evidence. The argument also contains the substance, the method of obtaining it, and the method of processing food or drink.

"If you are serious about joining the Imam Shafi'i madhhab, there is no need for a halal label. Because, everything is lawful unless there is a proposition that forbids it. In a Muslim-majority country, what is needed is a haram label, not a halal label. That's just how complicated it is!" Taufik wrote via his Twitter account, @TaufikDamas, Monday 14 March.

Taufik believes that the latest halal logo does not need to be debated because there is nothing special in its substance. However, if the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) removes the management of the halal label and replaces it with a haram label, then it becomes a special new thing for discussion.

"The Minister of Religion only changed the halal logo. There is nothing special. If the Minister of Religion dares to change that what is needed is a haram label, not a halal label, this is just extraordinary," he said.

Previously, the new halal label was inaugurated by the Ministry of Religion through the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH). BPJPH issues a new label after obtaining the authority to administer halal certification and apparently, which used to be the responsibility of MUI.

The determination of the latest halal label is contained in the Decree of the Head of BPJPH Number 40 of 2022 concerning the Determination of the Halal Label and signed by the Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham on February 10, 2022.

The latest halal label is valid nationally on March 1, 2022. The inclusion of the label is an effort to identify products circulating in the community that are halal guaranteed and have obtained halal certificates.

"This Indonesian Halal label must then be included on the product packaging, certain parts of the product, and/or certain places on the product," said Arfi in a written statement, Saturday, March 12.