Public should have confidence in Jakim's halal cert

The public should have confidence in the halal certificate issued by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) on food products produced in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

He said there were procedures which had to be observed before Jakim could issue the certificate.

"In this matter, the Health Ministry only conduct tests on food samples and decision on the halal status of food is determined by Jakim, which also has it own audit team to carry out inspection at factories.

"The inspection at factories is to look into the management, storage of raw materials and production of food items, where if the factories fail to meet all the requirements, the certificate will not be issued," he told reporters when met after presenting contributions to farmers at the Sungai Limau Area Farmers Organisation here today.

He said the Jakim audit team would analyse samples of all food products more than once a year to ensure the food did not contain non-halal substance, including porcine DNA.

"Jakim stands by the halal certificate it issued to the Cadbury company because the products are not contaminated with porcine DNA," he said, adding that Jakim would ensure the recent incident where reports stating two products by the company were contaminated with porcine DNA would not recur.

He said the company's syariah committee, had also been told to step up monitoring of its chocolate production to avoid creating anxiety, especially among Muslim consumers.

Jamil, in a statement on June 2, said an analysis by the Chemistry Department on two Cadbury products found that they did not contain the porcine DNA.