PUTRAJAYA: The Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has been instructed to collaborate with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to enforce actions and prosecute those misusing the halal logo, says Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar (pic).
In a statement Monday (Jan 13), the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said the misuse of the halal label on products was a serious offence.
ALSO READ: KK Super Mart lodges police report, says will take legal action against sandwich supplier
"The Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) reminds all parties not to misuse the halal logo label on any product.
"Misusing the halal label constitutes an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, specifically the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011,” he said.
Mohd Na’im expressed regret over a recent incident at a 24-hour retail outlet at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, where "ham and cheese" products without the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM) were sold.
ALSO READ: UM shuts two campus retail outlets over non-halal sandwich packs
"The Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) will not compromise on issues involving public integrity and interest.
"All parties are urged to consult Jakim and state Islamic religious authorities on halal-related matters,” he added.
Earlier, Jakim, in a media statement, confirmed that the "ham and cheese" product sold at the public university's premises did not possess SPHM, and the company producing the product was not an SPHM holder.
ALSO READ: KPDN opens investigation paper on bread factory suspected of misusing halal logo
In a separate media statement, the Domestic Trade Ministry's director-general (enforcement) Datuk Azman Adam said that a probe had been initiated against a sandwich bread factory in Sunway Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, suspected of misusing the halal logo.
The case is being investigated under Paragraph 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and constitutes an offence under Paragraph 8(a) of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011. - Bernama
