Action taken against businesses with false halal-certified products, says deputy minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 89 business owners in the country was found to have falsely claimed their products were halal-certified, said Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen (pic).

The figure was a result of 3,539 checks conducted by the ministry from January up till October this year, said Chong.

“So we had taken action, which includes confiscating their products and compounds were issued,” he said during Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (Dec 3).

Chong was speaking in response to a question by Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong), who asked about government’s measures to address the issue of companies misleading Muslim customers by using Islamic marketing and packaging themes.

Shamsul had also asked the government whether it intends to introduce a new law to curb such cases.

According to Chong, companies are only allowed to use the halal logo or market their products using words such as “Muslim-friendly” or “Syariah-compliant”, if they obtained the halal certification from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) or state religious authorities.

“Aside from that, anyone who does not obtain certification from the Jakim or state religious authorities are not allowed to use such words in their premises.

“That is why we have increased enforcement across the country to track down anyone who goes against this law.”

Chong said the government was serious about this issue, as it is an offence for anyone to falsely claim their products were halal-certified or “Muslim-friendly” under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011.

“However, the checks conducted was to ensure that food products or premises that were using halal descriptions were certified halal by Jakim or the state religious authorities, not just to ensure that it is owned by Muslims,” he said.

He said the government is cooperating with Jakim and state religious authorities on enforcement.

He also said that the government conducts halal checks at slaughter-houses, factories, supermarkets and restaurants, adding that special joint operations are conducted along with government agencies across the country.