Halal Act to be introduced next year

2009/11/08

LANGKAWI: The Halal Act that is meant to ensure halal foods and the processing of halal items are in accordance to Islamic requirements will be enforced by next year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator Maj Gen (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom.

He said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) together with state religious departments and the Attorney-General's Office were in the process of formulating the bill, which was expected to be completed soon.

"Once the Act comes into force, it will facilitate enforcement in halal matters at business premises nationwide," he told reporters after closing a human development course organised by Jakim for senior government officials from the northern zone and Pahang, here today.

Jamil Khir also said a laboratory for examining halal foods would be built in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

He said the government had acquired the land for it and that a RM20 million allocation was being sought to implement the first phase of the project. - Bernama