KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will continue to monitor the sale of Israeli dates, which are allegedly available for purchase in the market.
Its Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the monitoring would be conducted under the Trade Description Act 2011, and other various laws.
"We share the same concern YB, and we will continue to monitor the market to ensure that if there are indeed these Israel dates being sold to consumers.
"We have included several standard operating procedures and terms of reference in the Ops Pantau which we launched specifically for Ramadan and Aidilfitri, to look into detail on the sale of these dates.
"We hope that we can get the cooperation of the whole community, and through the complaints made by consumers on official ministry platforms."
Armizan was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (Perikatan Nasional-Hulu Terengganu in Dewan Rakyat today.
Rosol had asked about the government's actions on the alleged sale of Israel dates online, and whether there was a need for the government to amend the existing laws to ensure that these products would not easily enter the market.
Armizan said the Customs Department, in a press conference yesterday, said they had seized 73 boxes of "Organic Jumbo Medjool dates" believed to have originated from Israel.
"The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, and at the same time, the ministry will continue to monitor this in the market.
"The ministry views this seriously and will take strict action against unscrupulous traders who take advantage and try to confuse consumers," he added.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the ministry did not have the authority over the licences for the import of products from Israel, including dates, as this was under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.