June 10, 2009

Indonesia has lifted its ban on imports of beef from New Zealand after it was clarified that the meat conforms to Islamic halal rules.

Thomas Sembiring, executive director of the Indonesian Meat Importer Association, said the Council of Ulemas (MUI) has clarified that until the new halal certification rules are put into effect on October 1, all imported beef from New Zealand and Australia that were slaughtered before and after March 25 are halal.

Indonesia banned imports of beef from New Zealand after MUI said it does not recognise any certifying bodies in New Zealand that can give an assurance that the meat is halal. The MUI also claimed it does not recognise most of the certifying bodies in Australia.

Indonesia has released more than 100 containers of Australian and New Zealand beef held at ports for nearly three weeks.

The agriculture department has instructed officials to release the containers and to allow future Australian and New Zealand beef imports enter the country without fuss.