Brunei: Over 1,000kg confiscated meat disposed; Covid-19 tally still at 173

Officers of the Halal Food Control Division of the Syariah Affairs Department disposed of nearly 1,601.1 kilogrammes of confiscated chicken and beef at Sungai Paku landfill in Telisai, Tutong. - The Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jan 9 (Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network): Officers of the Halal Food Control Division of the Syariah Affairs Department disposed of nearly 1,601.1 kilogrammes of confiscated chicken and beef at Sungai Paku landfill in Telisai, Tutong.

The confiscated items including chicken wings and tails, lamb, beef bones and chicken sausages were disposed in accordance with Regulation 25 of Halal Meat Regulations 1999 on the procedure for disposal normally carried out after the payment of compound fine or court procedure.

Meat smuggled between January 23 and December 17,2020, as offences under the Halal Meat Act, Chapter 183 and Customs Order 2006, was disposed.

Enforcement officers from the Halal Food Control Division and the Royal Customs and Excise Department witnessed the disposal of the items.

The Halal Food Control Division of the Syariah Affairs Department called on the public to share information on smuggling of raw meat via the Halal Food Control Division hotline [phone] or contact the division at its district branch.

The Syariah Affairs Department’s Halal Food Control Division, along with other enforcement agencies, will increase operations and patrols to ensure the adherence to laws and regulations in the country, sources said.

Meanwhile, On Sunday (Jan 9), Brunei reported two more recoveries from the Covid-19 pandemic on Saturday night, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 153.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, no more confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded, with the national tally unchanged at 173. There are 17 active cases currently being treated at the National Isolation Center.

A total of 32 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case reported on May 6,2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 248 days without local COVID-19 infection cases.

Meanwhile, there are 666 returned overseas travellers in mandatory isolation at the monitoring centers provided by the government.

There have been three deaths reported from Covid-19 so far in Brunei. - The Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network