BY Rokiah Mahmud

Thirty-one food premises out of 53 inspected by officers from the Halal Food Control Division at the Syariah Affairs Department were found to have not applied for the halal certification.

Three had used the halal label and logo of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) without permission, while six others had displayed expired Halal certificates.

The premises were issued a notice and ordered to remove the expired labels.

The operation in Batu Bersurat, Bandar Seri Begawan and its surroundings was to enforce the provisions of Section 4(1) and Section 10(1)(a), Halal Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005 on the obligation to apply for a halal certificate or halal permit of the MUIB imposed on food entrepreneurs.

Failure to comply may lead to legal action under Section 12(3)(a) and Section 35, Halal Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005 with fines between BND4,000 and BND8,000, a one- to two-year jail term, or both. The Syariah Affairs Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) emphasised that an application must be made to obtain a halal certificate or halal permit for food businesses operating in the country.

Halal certificate and halal permit holders should ensure that their certificates and permits are valid, and must submit an application for certificate renewal three months before the expiry date.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin