June 5, 2009

Indonesia has temporarily suspended imports of New Zealand beef due to failures on meeting halal standards, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said Thursday (Jun 4).

The ban came into effect on May 25, the minister said.

The decision was made after the Ulema Council (MUI) declared it did not recognise any of the halal certification agencies in New Zealand, said Apriyantono.

Unless MUI provides a guarantee that New Zealand beef imports are halal, the products will not be allowed to enter the world's most populous Muslim nation, he said.

At least 76 containers of New Zealand beef have been held up at Indonesia ports since May 25, said Hari Priyono, head of the ministry's animal quarantine agency.

Indonesia imports about 70,000 tonnes of beef products from New Zealand and Australia per year, he said.

Last year, Indonesia consumed a total of 396,500 tonnes of beef and beef products, of which 30 percent was imported from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Indonesia requires imported beef products to pass Islamic halal standards for food consumption. Under halal certification rules, suppliers must print halal labels in both English and Indonesian.