Asia
Sarawak To Adopt Standardised Halal Logo
By BERNAMA
Apr 30, 2007, 10:17

KUCHING, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government will adopt the standardised certified halal logo issued by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) effective Jan 1 next year.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said the new ruling would not pose any major technical problem as those who had obtained the certification needed not make a fresh application once the new ruling was being enforced.

"Presently, the halal logo in Sarawak is being issued by Jakim but the logo has the "H13" trademark to show that it adheres to the certification procedure imposed by the Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS)," he told reporters after presenting financial aid to the needy here today.

Daud said beginning Jan 1 next year, the "H13" would no longer appear but the existing procedure to obtain the halal certification would remain.

"The standardised halal logo would avoid confusion on the status of halal products from Malaysia," he explained.

Sarawak has its own halal certification procedure since December 2004.

On April 11, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohd Zin was quoted as saying that Jakim would be empowered to issue the standardised certified halal logo by Jan 1 next year.

Abdullah said the introduction of the standardised logo would help check the misuse of halal logos on consumer products.

"The federal government and state governments have agreed in principle to implement the standardised logo by that date."

Abdullah had also said that his ministry would seek an amendment to the Trade Description Act 1972 to provide more enforcement powers to Jakim and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry against traders who cheat the people by claiming that their products are halal or by displaying fake logos.


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