NU: Pharmaceutical products must have halal certification

Jakarta, NU Online
Member of the Supreme Council of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Ma'ruf Amin (kiai Ma'ruf) said that pharmaceutical products, both medicines and vaccines, must obtain halal certification.<>

“Pharmaceutical products are in the same position as food products, which must first be certified halal before being consumed,” kiai Ma'ruf who is also the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman said in Jakarta on Thursday (19/12).

He said that for Muslims, ensuring that a product was halal, or permissible according to Islamic teaching, was part of their faith and belief.

"Thus, the halal certification for pharmaceutical products is part of efforts to protect Muslims from consuming medicines tainted with haram [forbidden] substances," Ma’ruf was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

He further said that for Muslims, consuming halal medicines and vaccines was a human right that must be protected and guaranteed by the state as mandated by the Constitution.

“There is a need for a comprehensive regulation in the form of a law, especially a Halal Product Guarantee Bill, to determine the halal and haram status of foodstuffs and other goods,” he said.

The MUI has also called on the government to facilitate industries to create halal and quality pharmaceutical products through research and development.

“The MUI urges all parties to pay respect to their competence and authority in line with their core duty and function,” said kiai Ma’ruf. 

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq