Malaysia: Chamber proposes halal audit body

KUALA LUMPUR (July 5, 2012): The Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (DPIM) has proposed the setting up of a professional ‘halal’ audit body to monitor the implementation of ‘halal’ compliance in the food industry in the country.

DPIM deputy president Mohammad Sahar Mat Din said it was necessary to set up the body immediately because the confidence of Muslims in halal integrity was still low.

“The professional halal audit body would monitor the implementation of halal compliance systematically and regularly to ensure the validity of products and that consumer goods fully comply with Syariah,” he said in a statement today.

Expressing support for the move by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) to require producers of food products and consumer goods to use the halal certificate issued only by Jakim and the state Islamic religious councils, Mohammad Sahar said the audit body would complement the work of Jakim, the state Islamic religious councils and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry in implementing halal compliance.

He also said that the setting up of the body would enable the implementation of halal compliance in Malaysia to be of greater integrity as there was segregation of duties among the certificate issuer, enforcement authority and monitoring body.

Mohammad Sahar said DPIM was prepared to help set up the professional body as it had expertise and capability in the matter. – Bernama