THE Health director-general’s power to make publications will be expanded so that a court order is no longer needed, under amendments to the Food Act 1983 (Act 281), says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Under the Food (Amendment) Bill 2026, convictions under the Act may be published in print or electronic media, while information on food that does not comply with the Act may also be published for public safety.
The director-general’s powers will also be expanded to close premises that prepare, store or sell food harmful to health, he said when tabling the Bill for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
“Act 281 has never been comprehensively reviewed since it was first gazetted in 1983,” he said.
He said the Act had been amended three times. The 2001 and 2006 amendments involved specific sections, to address enforcement problems and align the Act with the Criminal Procedure Code, while the 2024 amendment followed the enactment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
“The existing provisions under Act 281 are seen as no longer able to cope with current food safety challenges in protecting the people’s health,” he said.
Dzulkefly said these challenges included pesticide and antibiotic residues, the excessive use of food additives, and new chemicals and pathogens influenced by climate change.
He cited World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that consumption of contaminated food causes 866 million cases of illness and 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year.
The Bill also extends controls to food contact materials, allows field verification of foreign food facilities after consulting the exporting country, and controls the entry of food meant for sale but declared for personal use.
Costs incurred by the government under the Act may be recovered from the owner, occupier, agent or servant of any premises.
The Bill also clarifies the minister’s power to make regulations on fees for Food Safety Assurance Programme certification.
Regulations made under the Act may carry penalties of up to RM25,000, up to five years’ jail, or both.
Dzulkefly said the Cabinet approved the proposed amendments in principle on March 19, 2025, and approved the Bill on July 22 this year.
He said public consultation was held from Dec 9, 2024, to Jan 8, 2025, while comments were sought from World Trade Organization members from Dec 19, 2025, to Feb 19 this year.
