Halal certification :

Dialogue – the best way to solve issues

by Manjula FERNANDO

Industry representatives met several times to resolve the current issue with regard to Halal certified products under the auspices of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), The CCC had wide ranging consultations with members of the Buddhist clergy and the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU).

Having considered the views of all parties, the following position and actions were agreed upon by the parties concerned and has been endorsed by the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCESL) and the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI).

* The Halal certification procedures for manufactured Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) have never entailed any religious activities pre or post the manufacturing process.

* The suggestion of having two sets of the same product (i.e. One Halal and one non-Halaal) in the market is not feasible due to the enormous complexities it entails in sourcing, manufacturing and distributing two sets of products. Besides, two products of the same brand looking identical other than for the presence or absence of the Halal logo, will result in creating confusion among consumers.

* Furthermore, given the limited space available on retail shelves, it will not be viable to display and sell both sets of products in a retail outlet.

* Products sold in the Sri Lankan market are not required to display the Halal logo. However companies may continue to obtain the Halal certification for their products on a voluntary basis to facilitate exports, which will be issued free of charge by the ACJU.

* Specialised outlets in Sri Lanka catering to foreigners may also sell products carrying the Halal logo at such outlets.

* As all manufacturers carry substantial stocks of finished products and packaging material displaying the Halal logo, running down these stocks will require a considerable amount of time. As such, until all finished products and packaging material stocks displaying the Halal logo are exhausted, the market will have products with the Halal logo.

* Manufacturers will begin the process of changing packaging immediately to ensure products without the Halal logo are available in the market.

The Halal certification controversy, continues to haunt our harmonious society despite an assurance by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) last week that they will withdraw the logo from the products in the local market and exports to the Middle East will be issued with the certificate free of charge.

Some Buddhist groups and the Jathika Hela Urumaya opposed the Halal certification that has been introduced to almost all consumer goods in the local market, claiming that it infringed the rights of the non-Muslim community.

The issue appears not to have hurt the relations between the Muslims and Sinhalese yet, but many fear the tensions may spread and shatter the goodwill between the two communities.

In this backdrop the President appointed a Cabinet Sub Committee Chaired by Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to look into the issue and make recommendations to diffuse tensions. The other members of the committee are, Ministers A.H.M. Fowzie, Dinesh Gunawardena, Champika Ranawaka, Tissa Vitharana, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, D.E.W. Gunasekera, Rauff Hakeem, Wimal Weerawansa and A.L.M. Athaulla.

The report of the subcommittee was finalized mid last week and is to be submitted to the Cabinet shortly. In an effort to understand the tensions that still linger, even after an apparent settlement announced last week the Sunday Observer spoke to some key personalities.

‘Bodu Bala Sena’ President Ven. Kirama Wimalajoti Thera:

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) was created to look after Buddhist affairs and safeguard Buddhist culture, and not against any religion or nationality. We look into wrongdoings by bogus monks, so called cultural activities and translated versions of Dhamma Books that distort the Buddha’s teachings. We act against Bhikkus who distort Buddhist teachings in their sermons. We have been attending to these matters for the past so many months before the Halal issue was raised.

When people of many faiths lived in harmony, we were disturbed when a logo promoting one particular faith was introduced to locally produced consumer goods.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee met the BBS to address our concerns. They have come to a conclusion that it was not right for an Ulema organisation to introduce a religious label into food and other products in the country.

We found that in 2007 they had obtained permission to introduce the Halal emblem as a test for a period of one year. It was to be cancelled after a year, but nonetheless they continued even after the expiry of the period. Not only that they expanded the branding to many products, but according to information received the Ulema organisation forced companies to get the certification.

As a result it became a contentious issue during the past few months. After that we reached an understanding to remove the label. The Ulema organisation said they will remove the label from products meant for the local market, but it will stay on products meant for export.

However, the companies explained that such a mechanism will create huge problems in the production line. We felt that the Buddhists and others were being subject to some sort of cheating by the Ulema organisation. Although they agreed to remove the label it was not to be so in reality. Therefore, we requested the complete withdrawal of the Halal logo.

Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera, a member of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Halal issue:

I think it is a movement in the right direction now. The Halal certificate has now been withdrawn by the ACJU.

A report has been submitted by Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to the Cabinet and the Cabinet will take a decision on that report. The issue will be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting.

We had discussions with Moulavis, members of the BBS and the business community. Without causing any insecurity in the minds of the Muslim community and without giving State powers to an individual institute to issue unauthorised licences, a mechanism has to be formulated.

The Cabinet will discuss it. There will be continued discussion on the issue. We must work with a collective approach to diffuse the tension. The issue may lead to another uprising which we must avoid.

We have suffered for 30 years and we have to now resort to moderate ways of settling things. The Government cannot alone settle the issue, all parties must get together, these are national questions. The collective agreement with reputed Bhikkus, the business community and the ACJU was a positive development. We cannot allow people with political agendas to exploit the situation to create disharmony within the masses.

The situation has already eased. But people with hidden agendas may try to seize the opportunity to get political mileage out of the issue. It must be prevented.

Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera:

We have just emerged from a war on terror that plagued the country for 30 long years. We should not do anything to drag it towards another black era of similar sort. We have to be flexible and moderate in dealing with issues between communities and religions.

The best way to iron out differences is by dialogue. Other means have proven to be either temporary, unsuccessful or too costly in the long run.

Minister Champika Ranawaka

The Consumer Affairs Authority has withdrawn the permission given to the ACJU to issue Halal certification in September 2007. It is illegal now to issue this certification and standardisation process on consumer products. Making Halal certification compulsory or mandatory is against the teachings in the Quran. It has to be purely voluntary. If anyone is trying to profit out of this process that too is a forbidden act. Before the ACJU took over issuing this certificate in Sri Lanka it was confined to food related to meat products but later it was expanded, for profit.

We all respect Islam and we all respect the dietary customs of Muslims .There is no issue with Muslims practising their faith. But the ACJU trying to push their customs on the non-Muslims is a concern. It cannot be tolerated.