Jakim's test results on samples in line with international standards

Department of Standards director-general, Fadilah Baharin said the public should not be concerned with the decision that the products are halal as the procedures used to analyse the two types of chocolate have MS ISO/IEC 17025.

"The Chemistry Department laboratory received the recognition of our department for DNA testing, including testing of processed food products.

"When tests on the two types of chocolate found no such DNA, I believe it is the right decision and should not create conflict," he told Bernama here today.

MS ISO/IEC 17025 international standard states that DNA testing can only be done in special laboratories that have high competency standard such as trained personnel, calibrated equipment and proper documentation.

Eighteen other laboratories received accreditation from the Department of Standards to conduct porcine DNA test and the list can be accessed at www.standardsmalaysia.gov.my.

On May 24, the Health Ministry issued a statement it had detected porcine DNA in Cadbury dairy milk chocolate, hazelnut dairy milk chocolate and almond dairy milk chocolate for batches with November 13, 2014 and January 15, 2015 expiry date.

On Monday, Jakim confirmed that the two samples of chocolate products taken directly from the company's factory did not contain porcine DNA after testing the samples in the Chemistry Department laboratory.

Fadilah said her department is working to create a national standard on the test methods to detect porcine DNA by a standardised methodology which may be named 'Malaysian Standard: Test Method for the Detection of Porcine Based DNA.'

She said the standard which would be ready and announced next year are guidelines and techniques for proper analysing of porcine DNA.

"We are in the process, but this thing (Cadbury issue) exploded before I could announce it. When implemented, this standard will be the first in the world with guidelines for analysing pig DNA.