Latest news with #FoodAct1983
The Star
16-07-2025
- The Star
RM35.4mil worth of frozen food seized from unlicensed premises, 29 held in Sabah-wide ops
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities have seized over RM35.4mil worth of frozen food products and detained 29 individuals in a major crackdown on unlicensed storage and distribution centres across Sabah. The coordinated operation, dubbed Ops Taring Chiller, was carried out simultaneously in 10 districts on Tuesday (July 15), targeting warehouses and key distribution hubs suspected of operating without valid permits. Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias ( pic ) said the operation — based out of Kinarut — involved 275 personnel from various enforcement agencies. They were joined by officers from the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, the Health Ministry, and the Sabah Agriculture Department. 'In total, 29 individuals — 22 men and seven women aged between 20 and 60 years old — were arrested during raids across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tenom, and Keningau,' he told a press conference at the PGA Sabah headquarters in Kinarut Wednesday (July 16). The confiscated items included chicken, beef and seafood products, as well as frozen items such as French fries and meatballs. Authorities also seized cold room facilities, industrial freezers, meat slicers and refrigerated trucks. 'Of the total seizure, over RM12mil worth of items were confiscated in Kota Kinabalu alone,' he said. A total of 19 premises were raided — 15 were found to have committed various offences, three were clean, and one was not in operation during the raid. Abdul Rani said six major violations were detected, including operating without a business licence; breaching the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015; Food Act 1983; Local Government Act 1976; Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948; and the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and its regulations. Checks also revealed that most frozen goods were locally repackaged to disguise their origins. 'We believe the items were repackaged domestically to mislead authorities. This operation targeted only storage and distribution centres, not retailers or small sales stores,' he added. He said the raids were conducted following two to three weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, timed to coincide with the early morning start of business operations. 'Most of those arrested were warehouse workers, while the rest were premises owners,' he said. All suspects and confiscated goods have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further action under existing laws. 'This operation will continue in stages with other enforcement agencies. Our main objective is to safeguard consumers and ensure that supplied food is safe and of good quality,' he added.
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Unlicensed caterer causes food poisoning affecting 427 students in Kota Bharu
PASIR MAS: The food poisoning incident involving 427 students from a private higher education institution in Kota Bharu has been linked to an unlicensed caterer operating without registration under the Ministry of Health (MOH). Kelantan Health Department director Datuk Dr Zaini Husin confirmed that the caterer was issued a seven-day closure notice starting July 9 under Section 18(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). He stressed that all food businesses, including catering services, must register with MOH to ensure food safety. 'We found the caterer preparing meals for the college students was not registered with MOH and was operating from a private residence. A seven-day closure order has been issued,' he said. The outbreak is now under control, with no new cases reported. All hospitalised students have been discharged. Initial investigations point to chicken curry as the possible cause, but lab tests are pending for confirmation. The number of suspected food poisoning cases rose from 343 to 427 within a day. In a separate update, Dr Zaini revealed that RM249,000 in compounds were issued from January to June this year under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 (Act 154) for dengue prevention. Additionally, 35 cases under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 resulted in RM23,000 in fines, while 10 cases under the Food Act 1983 saw penalties exceeding RM30,000. Under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), 7,643 premises were inspected, leading to 5,953 offence notices and 7,744 educational advocacy sessions. 'Under the Food Act 1983 (Act 281), we inspected 4,999 food premises, and 39 were issued temporary closure orders under Section 11 to ensure hygiene and food safety,' he added. - Bernama
The Star
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Be label-savvy to stay healthy
PETALING JAYA: The multi-billion-ringgit global organic food and beverage market is expected to grow more by 2030, according to market research firm Grand View Research. For Malaysia, there is a growing appetite for organic food among health-conscious consumers. CLICK TO ENLARGE But how do people know whether the 'organic' foodstuff they buy are truly organic? An important source is the myOrganic sticker that is usually found on the packaging of organic foodstuff sold at shops. The myOrganic certification scheme is used to promote, implement and facilitate the adoption of organic agriculture, explains Agriculture Department (DOA) director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi. 'This certification scheme covers various organic activities, including fresh produce farming, beekeeping, the breeding of organic plant varieties and wild harvesting. ALSO READ: Verifying food markers not quite an organic process 'The Malaysian Organic Certification Scheme is now known as myOrganic,' she said in in a statement to The Star. To safeguard the authenticity of certified organic products, the regulation of organic items is primarily governed under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, overseen by the Health Ministry, she added. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has also registered the myOrganic certification logo with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) as a legitimate trademark. 'If the DOA receives complaints about the misuse of this logo, the matter will be referred to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry for further investigation. 'In cases where fraud is confirmed, the offending company may be prosecuted under the Trademarks Act 2019,' she said. Upon conviction, offenders may face a fine of up to RM10,000 per item bearing the misused trademark, imprisonment of up to three years or both. ALSO READ: How bugs help you spot organic durians Nor Sam said the department has issued guidelines to certificate holders outlining the terms and conditions for the use of the myOrganic logo. 'However, we also rely on the cooperation of consumers to address the risks of fraud and logo misuse by lodging complaints where appropriate. 'Matters related to processing, repackaging or importation of organic products fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry,' she said. To create awareness, the department is actively carrying out promotional activities targeting consumers through physical events and social media platforms, as well as by engaging with local organic associations. 'These initiatives focus on promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), highlighting the importance of recognising the myOrganic logo, encouraging the purchase of certified farm produce. 'Additionally, consumers can verify the validity of organic certification by visiting the DOA website at under the list of certified recipients,' she said. Dr Juju Nakasha Jaafar, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said there has been confusion on the authenticity of organic products. 'For example, a seller might claim he is selling pesticide-free or chemical-free vegetables, which gives consumers the impression that the products are organic. 'In reality, these vegetables may be free from chemical pesticides but are still grown using chemical fertilisers and thus do not qualify as organic,' she said. 'For vegetables to be certified as organic, all input must be completely natural. 'This includes compost fertilisers, organic pesticides and non-genetically modified organism seeds.' These are outlined in the myOrganic certification guidelines. 'Consumers can look for the myOrganic logo on vegetable products to ensure they are truly organic. 'The DOA strictly regulates this certification,' she said, adding that more details can be found on the DOA website. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said traders must verify the certification documents provided by suppliers before selling or labelling any product as organic. 'They should only use the term 'organic' when backed by certification,' he said. Saravanan said consumers should look for official certification logos on packaging and not rely solely on general claims like 'natural'. 'If you suspect a product is being falsely marketed as organic, you should report it to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry or lodge a complaint with Fomca,' he added.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- The Sun
Over 5,000 fake guns seized in raids in three states
KUALA LUMPUR: Polcie seized more than 5,000 imitation firearms in simultaneous raids on seven premises in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Johor yesterday, arresting six individuals, including four foreign nationals. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) director, Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the operation was carried out by the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) to clamp down on the illegal online sale of fake guns. He said in the first raid on two premises around Kuala Lumpur, four foreign men were arrested, and 4,983 units of imitation firearms worth an estimated RM4,113,550 were seized. 'Also seized in the raid were 1,400 boxes of snack food in violation of regulations under the Food Act 1983. 'In the second raid on two business premises in Bandar Baru Bangi, a local man was arrested and 53 imitation firearms, estimated to be worth RM31,520, were seized. The premises were found to be operating without a valid business licence,' he said in a statement today. In the third operation at a residence in Batu Pahat, Johor, a local man was arrested and 15 imitation firearms worth RM15,000 were confiscated. Azmi said the total value of seizures from all three raids was estimated at RM4,160,070 and that all suspects, aged between 28 and 40, are being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Food Act 1983, the Trade Licensing By-Laws, and the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982. Preliminary investigations revealed that the imitation firearms were sold through online platforms over the past few months. Azmi also warned e-commerce and social media platform operators to monitor sales activities on their platforms and ensure illegal items are not sold. 'The public is also advised not to engage in the purchase or possession of imitation firearms and to report any relevant information to the police immediately,' he said. Azmi added that during the first six months of this year, Bukit Aman WCB/PSK JKDNKA conducted 153 raids, resulting in 233 arrests for various offences, including smuggling of non-duty-paid goods, sale of imitation firearms, and wildlife trafficking, with total seizures valued at RM433,351,837.61.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Cops seize over RM4mil in imitation firearms in KL, Selangor and Johor
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled a syndicate selling imitation firearms online following simultaneous raids in Johor, Selangor and here, seizing over RM4 million worth of such weapons. The operations, codenamed Op Taring Bravo 3, were carried out yesterday by the police Internal Security and Public Order Department through its Wildlife Crime Bureau/ Special Investigation and Intelligence (WCB/PSK). Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said intelligence gathered through online surveillance led to coordinated raids on seven premises across the three states. "In Kepong, policemen raided two premises and arrested four foreign men where a total of 4,983 imitation firearms were seized, with an estimated value of RM4.11 million. "Police also discovered 1,400 brown boxes containing various snack products that were found to be in violation of the Food Regulations under the Food Act 1983," he said in a statement. Azmi said, in a separate raid on two business premises in Bandar Baru Bangi, a local man was arrested and 53 imitation firearms worth RM31,520 were confiscated. The premises were also found to be operating without valid business licences. "The third operation, targeting a residence in Batu Pahat, Johor, led to the arrest of another local man and the seizure of 15 imitation firearms valued at RM15,000. "The total value of all seized items from the three operations was estimated at RM4,160,070," he said. Azmi added that the suspects are being investigated under multiple laws, including Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960 for possession of imitation firearms; several provisions of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for offences including illegal entry and hiring of undocumented workers; as well as food, planning and licensing violations. "The syndicate is believed to have been selling imitation firearms through online platforms over the past few months. "The operation was prompted by a number of recent crimes in which suspects were found using imitation firearms to threaten victims," he said, adding that such items could cause fear and panic among the public. Azmi also warned online platform operators to monitor content on their sites and prevent the sale of prohibited goods. The public is also urged not to buy or store imitation firearms and to report any such activity to the authorities.
