Public assured imported meat products free from horsemeat

The Veterinary Services Department has assured the public that they need not worry about the integrity of existing meat products in the country, following a horsemeat scandal which has hit Asian countries.

Director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said, the department had never approved the import of meat and meat products from plants or slaughterhouses in European Union countries.

He said meat and meat products allowed entry were from plants or slaughterhouses which were approved by the department and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), of which the list was available on the department's official website www.dvs.gov.my.

Speaking at a news conference in his office here, he said the government always gave importance to the issue of integrity in food, especially in terms of health, hygiene and halal status.

Abdul Aziz said, discussions with the health department and those related to the domestic trade, cooperative and consumerism ministry would be held next week to form cooperation to preserve the integrity of imported food items.

"This is to ensure there is no room for anyone to manipulate the situation. We will discuss it at the technical level...then, we may bring it to the ministry level. This is to make sure the public is comfortable and confident that imported products meet government standard and regulations," he added.