Ministry to work with Jakim on food products with porcine DNA,' says Armizan
PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will cooperate with the Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) in removing any imported Indonesian food products from the local market if they contain porcine (pig DNA), said its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
According to Armizan, his ministry had already discussed with Jakim after a recall was issued on several imported food products from Indonesia after tests revealed they contained porcine.
'We had discussions with Jakim to ensure these products can be immediately removed from our markets.
'So, we will cooperate with Jakim and state-religious agencies to remove these products, if there are any in the market,' said Armizan during a press conference after the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception on Wednesday (April 23).
On April 22, Jakim ordered the immediate recall of several imported food products after Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Agency announced that, following a joint investigation with the National Agency of Drug and Food Control, traces of porcine DNA were found in 11 batches of nine food products.
Of these, nine batches from seven products were found to have halal certification, while two batches from two products were uncertified, as listed at https://bpjph.halal.go.id/detail/siaran-pers.
Sirajuddin stated that Jakim is collaborating with the State Islamic Religious Councils and the State Islamic Departments to monitor and inspect any flagged products that may have reached the local market.
Consumers are being encouraged to report sightings of the affected items through Jakim's complaint portal at https://islam.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do.
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