Jamil Khir: Only Jakim, religious councils allowed to issue halal logo

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

January 05, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — Only the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) as well as state religious councils will be allowed to issue a standardised halal logo, said Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

The religious affairs minister said the ruling, enforced effective January 1 this year, was done to ensure all products and premises adhered to the strictest halal code.

“We want to make sure that there is consumer confidence, that there is a better effective guarantee of the context of halal.

“This can only be done by making sure it (halal logo certification) is done by a body which is not out to make a profit... this means private companies can no longer issue the logos,” he told reporters here after officiating the government’s halal awareness campaign.

Jamil Khir (picture) said that products currently using halal logos which were not “sanctioned” by the government will be given a December 31 deadline to apply for new ones under Jakim or the religious councils.

He said the same rule applied for premises using old halal logos, and that they had apply for new ones as well.

Individuals or premises which failed to adhere to the new rules will be charged under the new 2011 Halal Trade Act.

Under the Act, individuals found causing “confusion” or “misrepresenting” the halal logo or products can be fined an amount not exceeding RM1 million, jailed for not more than three years, or both.

Individuals found to have abused the sacred words of the Quran in their premises can be fined an amount not exceeding RM5 million, jailed for not more than five years, or both.

Companies or bodies found committing these offences can be fined not more than RM5 million. If they are found to have misappropriated Quranic words, they can be fined not more than RM10 million.