AP abolishment: Entry of halal food subject to trade descriptions, says Jakim

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the abolishment of the approved permit (AP) or import quota for some food items as recently announced by the government, any entry of halal food is still subject to Paragraph 5 (1) of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011.

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (Jakim) Malaysia Halal Council Secretariat said the paragraph stipulates that all imported food and goods marketed in Malaysia cannot be described as halal unless they comply with the requirements of paragraph 4 or are certified as halal by a foreign halal certification body recognised by Jakim.