Australian Government Supports Indonesia's New "Halal Regulation"

March 13, 2017, Stephan Johnson, Australia Daily Mail

The Australian government supports Indonesia's new 'Halal regulation,' which requires all meat sold to Muslim countries to be slaughtered traditionally according to Halal regulations.

- Trade Minister Steven Ciobo visited Indonesia last week and attended elite trade talks

- Upon returning home, he expressed support for the upcoming Indonesian Halal regulation

- 'For Indonesian consumers, Halal product assurance is very important,' an office spokesperson said

- Starting October 2019, all meat sold in Indonesia must obtain Halal certification

Australia's Trade Minister supports Indonesia's new law, which will require all meat sold in Muslim countries to be Halal-certified.

Starting October 2019, in order to expand their sales market in the world's largest Muslim country, Australia requires cattle and sheep to be slaughtered by throat-cutting before they are frightened.

Trade Minister Steven Ciobo visited Indonesia for three days last week and supported the new Halal regulation from Indonesia.

80% of Indonesia's beef comes from Australia, which holds a huge share of Australia's US$9 billion beef export industry.

'Halal product assurance is very important to Indonesian consumers,' a Trade Ministry spokeswoman told the Daily Mail on Monday.

'Australia is already carrying out a Halal certification program, and the vast majority of Australian beef and meat products currently exported to Indonesia have passed Halal certification.'

To meet Halal regulation requirements, throat-cutting must be performed while the animal is alive, as part of the slaughter.

When livestock are frightened under various circumstances, this method is usually used for slaughter.

However, Australia's animal rights advocates have campaigned to close this loophole, which allows some Halal slaughterhouses to avoid frightening cattle before slaughter begins.

In October 2014, outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a law stipulating that by 2019, all food imported into Indonesia must mandatorily obtain a Halal certificate.