PASIR GUDANG: The Johor Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) seized 25 tonnes of pork belly worth RM400,000 due to import permit violations.
Johor Maqis director Edie Putra Md Yusof said the meat was seized during an inspection on a container at the import bay of the Pasir Gudang Port, here, at 6pm on Tuesday (March 12).
“Based on our routine inspection, we found that the consignment has not followed the import terms as each pack of meat does not have a label.
“The import term stated that each package of meat should have the dates of slaughter and the name, address, and number of the meat processing plant,” he said in a statement here on Wednesday (March 13).
He added that failure to comply with the conditions set by Maqis in the import permit was considered an offence under Section 15(1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011, which is punishable under Section 15(2) of the same Act.
"A person could be fined not more than RM100,000, jailed for a period not exceeding six years, or both if convicted,” he said.
Edie Putra also said Maqis would continue monitoring the state’s entry and exit points to safeguard the country’s food security and ensure the agricultural products brought in are safe and in compliance with the law.
