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Last Updated: Jun 25th, 2007 - 17:07:26 |
WELLINGTON, April 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is prepared to review the suspension of imports of meat and meat products from New Zealand subject to compliance with the syariah principle, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
In this connection, he said, an inspection team from Malaysia would visit seven beef abattoirs in New Zealand from April 19 to 28 at the request of the relevant authorities in that country and the abattoirs themselves.
However, he said, in safeguarding and protecting the halal standards and procedures, it was suggested that New Zealand authorities should ensure that the country's meat and meat products complied with these requirements.
"Sharing this responsibility would contribute towards continuous market entry into Malaysia and other Muslim countries," he said at a seminar on "Understanding Halal Concept" organised by the Malaysian government in collaboration with the Chair of Malay Studies at Victoria University's Pipitea Campus in downtown Wellington on Monday.
Malaysia has suspended the import of meat products from New Zealand since 2005 due to thoracic sticking and electric immobilisation used during slaughtering process by abattoirs in New Zealand in violation of halal procedures approved earlier by Malaysia's National Fatwa (Edicts) Council. The council, however, recently ruled as allowable the slaughter of animals using the thoracic sticking procedure subject to certain requirements.
Muhyiddin said that to avoid disruption in bilateral trade, it was essential for any new procedures introduced to be notified and agreed upon in advance by both parties.
The minister said that as the current chair of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Malaysia was taking the lead in promoting halal food worldwide.
He said that Malaysia could also serve as a one-stop centre for marketing and a platform for activities related to halal food encompassing legislation, inspection and certification, enforcement, research and development, analysis and laboratory facilities as well as consumerism.
Malaysia, he said, had also proposed to the OIC a protocol on the procedures and management of halal products which, among others, includes the slaughtering process, procedures on handling and transportation of meat and meat products based on the Malaysian standard on halal food.
Muhyiddin also invited New Zealand authorities and business community to participate in the upcoming World Halal Forum 2007 and the Fourth Malaysia International Halal Showcase in Kuala Lumpur.
The minister, meanwhile, said Malaysia's exports in agricultural products to New Zealand amounted to US$19.4 million compared to imports from that country which stood at US$218.4 million last year.
The large gap was due to Malaysia's substantial imports of dairy and milk products, live animals, meat products and fruits from New Zealand, Muhyiddin said.
The half-day seminar was chaired by New Zealand's Institute of International Affairs director Brian Lynch. Speakers included Bank Muamalat chief executive Datuk Abd Manap Abd Wahab, Universiti Putra Malaysia's Professor Yaakob Che Man and Anita Abdul Aziz from the Malaysian External Development Trade Corporation office in Sydney.
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