VP Ma'ruf Amin Reviews the Slaughtering Process in New Zealand to Ensure Halal Status

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - To ensure the halalness of meat to be exported to Indonesia, Vice President (VP) K.H. Ma'ruf Amin visited the process of slaughtering cattle at Taylor Preston Limited, Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington, New Zealand, on Thursday, February 29, the VP office said in a press release. 

One of the largest trade commodities from New Zealand to Indonesia is beef. As the country with the largest Muslim population, Indonesia requires halal certification for beef products from New Zealand. This includes halalness from the slaughtering process to packaging. 

"I just saw this, saw halal cattle and meat at the Taylor Preston company, one of whose products is exported to Indonesia," said the Vice President when giving a press statement after the inspection.

During the review, the VP wore a security suit before receiving an explanation from John Preston, the owner of Taylor Preston Limited, regarding the slaughter process.

"We saw first that [the meat] obtained halal recognition from several halal institutions in New Zealand, which obtained endorsement from Indonesian halal [certification]," he continued.

Ma’ruf Amin explained that the cows are stunned through shocking on the chin, which is not lethal. The VP added that the slaughter process is carried out after the cow loses consciousness, and then it is slaughtered manually by the butcher, just like the slaughter process according to Islamic law. Furthermore, the cattle will be skinned and cut into pieces with the help of machines.

"Every day, 450 to 600 cattle are exported to Indonesia, only a small portion for the world, most of which I asked [are exported] to China and the US," he said.

Although the halal process in slaughtering cattle in New Zealand has been confirmed, the Vice President emphasized that Indonesia continues to strive so that the fulfillment of meat commodities can be met within the country, not solely relying on imports from other countries.

"I think we are self-sufficient," the Vice President replied when asked about what might be duplicated from New Zealand.

"We hope that in the future we will reduce beef imports. We have large areas in Sulawesi, Kalimantan, in NTT (East Nusa Tenggara), there are large pastures," he added.

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