INDONESIA - HALAL - Pilgrims uninformed about disease risk

Many Indonesians who travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the haj pilgrimage are not aware that they are required to be vaccinated against Meningococcal Meningitis prior to their departure, the government says.

The Health Ministry’s head of disease control and environmental health, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, said that many Indonesians who traveled to Saudi Arabia on the minor haj pilgrimage, or umrah, or as migrant workers, did not know about the government regulation, due to a lack of information and education about the disease. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Bogor hosts fair to increase Halal awareness in Indonesia

Living up to its reputation as the first halal city in Indonesia, Bogor is currently holding a Halal Fair aimed at promoting halal food produced in line with the specific guidelines outlined in Islamic law.

The three-day festival, which was launched yesterday (June 27) and runs till tomorrow, is participated by 55 small- and medium-scale enterprises. (source)

HALAL - Indonesia: MUI Eyes Authority Over Halal Assessment

The Indonesian Council of Ulema has urged the government to make it the only body authorized to issue halal certification, which will soon be regulated by an upcoming law.

Ma’ruf Amin, chairman of the council, also known as the MUI, made the statement after an open hearing in Jakarta on Wednesday with lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) regarding the Assurance of Halal Products bill. (source)

FOOD AND DRUGS - Malaysia: Single halal certificate beginning April

PUTRAJAYA: The single halal logo and certification will come into force by April next year, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the draft of the amendments to the Trade Description Act 1972 that would allow for a single Malaysian halal logo and certification was finalised at a meeting between the ministry and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) yesterday.