This five part series dwells into several aspects relating to halal including what it means, what is halal certification and why it is important for Muslims in the country to tackle issues relating to halal. This is the second of the five part series.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- There is a dearth of information regarding the halal status on many of the products consumed or used by Muslims.

Therefore, it is only appropriate that that Muslims are provided with the information that they need and one of the easiest way to provide the required information is through the details on the packaging.

"But that would not suffice as the cause of concern for Muslims is not only limited to products. For example how are they to know the halal status of eateries owned by non-Muslims.

"So is the halal food status of hotels patronised by Muslims," noted Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive of the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) in expounding the halal issue to Bernama.

He referred to the Islamic Development Department's (Jakim) statistics that up to May 2009, only 27 or 1.4 per cent of almost 2,000 hotels in Malaysia have obtained the halal certificate from Jakim for their main kitchen.

REGULATIONS RELATING TO HALAL

Mohd Yusof pointed out that several laws pertaining to halal exists with the jurisdiction under various parties.

One of them is the Trade Description Act 1972 - Trade Description Order (Use of Expression Halal 1975) under the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK).

The others are the Food Act 1983 under the Health Ministry that covers cleanliness and safety of the contents and the Animal Importation Order 1962 under the Agriculture and Agro based Industries Ministry that requires the animals to be slaughtered according to Islamic ways.

However, Mohd Yusof pointed out the enforcing the halal certification in Malaysia is not obligatory.

He added that, up to now there is no law that makes it compulsory for producers and distributors to obtain halal certification.

"The producers and distributors are the ones who decide if they are to apply for the certificate or not.

"Therefore, consumer associations have long been clamouring for a law specifically for halal, that compels producers and distributors to apply for the halal certification if they are to market their products to Muslims.

"When tabling the 2010 Budget, the Prime Minister had stated that the government will draft the Halal Act to be enforced this year (2010). Until the Act is enforced, the status quo remains," said Mohd Yusof.

OFTEN CONFUSED

Based on the incidences reported by the media, it seems that Muslim consumers often end up victims to greedy traders and manufacturers who use their own halal certification, which is not recognised.

They are either inconsiderate or not bothered on why the products have to be halal for Muslims.

According to Mohd Yusof, the truth is that a big number of producers or manufacturers especially for food related items are non-Muslims.

Some of them, he said, hardly give any consideration to ensure that the manufacturing is in accordance with the Islamic laws and some of them just paste the halal label on their products to improve their market value.

And that is not all, he said, there were some non-Muslim restaurants that hang framed Quranic verses or use Muslim workers to impress customers that the food in the restaurant is halal.

"If there is no Halal label in a product or an eatery does not exhibit any halal label then no action can be taken even if the manufacturing process or the food preparation process does not conform to the Islamic laws," explained Mohd Yusof.

What ever the case, he advised Muslim consumers to avoid the nonchalant attitude in tackling the halal issue.

Muslim consumers, he noted, have to be on alert and ensure any of the food or products that they buy or the restaurant that they patronise had to have the halal logo from Jakim.

He also criticised Muslims who patronise non-Muslim eateries that has no Halal certification and Muslims who buy from non-Muslim hawkers especially in the night markets.