News From : DagangHalal.com (05 Oct 2010)
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 5 (Bernama) — The amendments on halal requiremments in the Trade Description Act 1971 are expected to come in force from April next year.
Domestic Trade, Cooeratives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the draft of the proposed amendments had been summitted to Attorney-General’s Chambers to be vetted before being tabled in Parliament this month.
“We expect the amendments to be gazetetd by March or April next year,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Once in force, only the Malaysian Islamic Development Development and state Islamic religious departments will be authorised products or services as halal (permitted by Islam).
Presently, halal certification has also been outsourced to several companies.
Meanwhile, when attending Maktab Kerjasama Malaysia’s Aidifitri open house in Petaling Jaya, Ismail Sabri said the government could not act as yet on traders who hiked prices of non price controlled items.
He said action could only be taken against the culprits when the Anti-Profiteering Act 2010, which will be tabled in Parliament this month is approved.
He said this when asked to comment about complaints by consumers that traders were hiking the price of coffee and condensed milk without government approval.
— BERNAMA