Producers of three controlled items - flour, sugar and cooking oil - must use the 1Malaysia logo on packages of these products put on sale from this month, if they want to continue enjoying the government subsidies.
However, the government is also considering giving the producers more time to comply with this ruling, Deputy Minister for Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Tan Lian Hoe (left) said.
"I will bring this (more time to comply) to the ministerial meeting (today) for discussion," Tan was quoted by several local Chinese dailies as saying at a function in Taiping, Perak, yesterday.
The new policy was first announced by Tan in Taiping on Feb 10.
Before this, flour producers had been asked by the government to use the 1Malaysia logo on their packaging from January this year, but it was not made compulsory.
However, from this month, the 1Malaysia logo policy is made compulsory and was also extended to two other controlled items, sugar and cooking oil.
If the manufacturers fail to do so, they will not able to enjoy the subsidies from the government.
However, the government is also considering giving the producers more time to comply with this ruling, Deputy Minister for Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Tan Lian Hoe (left) said."I will bring this (more time to comply) to the ministerial meeting (today) for discussion," Tan was quoted by several local Chinese dailies as saying at a function in Taiping, Perak, yesterday.
The new policy was first announced by Tan in Taiping on Feb 10.
Before this, flour producers had been asked by the government to use the 1Malaysia logo on their packaging from January this year, but it was not made compulsory.
However, from this month, the 1Malaysia logo policy is made compulsory and was also extended to two other controlled items, sugar and cooking oil.
If the manufacturers fail to do so, they will not able to enjoy the subsidies from the government.
Size of logo must be at least 4cm
According to an industry source quoted by China Press, the ministry has set the specifications for the standard 1Malaysia packaging.These include the size of the logo, which must be at least 4cm, be printed at a prominent position and carry the words "the price of this cooking oil (or the product concerned) is subsidied by the Malaysian government".
Besides these three controlled items, the 1Malaysia logo is now used on bird's nests that are exported to China.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries had on Jan 16 directed that all bird's nests must be certified with the "1Malaysia Best" logo before they are exported to China.
This is to allow the authorities to trace the origin and suppliers of the bird's nests, following China's imposition of a ban on bird's nests from Malaysia last year after excessive levels of nitrates were found in them.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries had on Jan 16 directed that all bird's nests must be certified with the "1Malaysia Best" logo before they are exported to China.
This is to allow the authorities to trace the origin and suppliers of the bird's nests, following China's imposition of a ban on bird's nests from Malaysia last year after excessive levels of nitrates were found in them.
'Too much of a rush'
A few manufacturers have expressed their dissatisfication on the new ruling to local Chinese dailies, complaining that the implementation "is too much of a rush" and that they needed more time to comply with it.
Tan said she has taken note of the manufacturers' concern and that the ministry would discuss it.
Recently, the government was reported to be moving to cut subsidies on several widely used consumer goods in order to ease its increasing public debt.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday that if the opposition regarded the various forms of aid the government gave to the people as bribery, then it should reject such aid, including subsidies for essential goods.
Recently, the government was reported to be moving to cut subsidies on several widely used consumer goods in order to ease its increasing public debt.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday that if the opposition regarded the various forms of aid the government gave to the people as bribery, then it should reject such aid, including subsidies for essential goods.
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