KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry is drawing up a regulation to make it compulsory for traders to disclose the halal status of leather goods.
Its secretary-general Datuk Saripuddin Kasim said this was to enable them to display separately, leather items such as bags, shoes and clothing that are made from non-halal material.
“At the moment there are no laws that enable the ministry to enforce this. We only advise the traders to do so,” he said.
Saripuddin said the draft of the regulation was being prepared by experts from the Chemistry Department, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and state Islamic religious councils, It is expected to be completed in a few months.
At the moment, the enforcement of halal certification is covered under the Trade Description Act, but it does not cover making it compulsory to disclose the halal status of leather goods.
Saripuddin also said the ministry has appointed 62 Jakim officers as trade description comptrollers to enforce the Trade Description Act.
“This is to ensure there will not be any abuse of the halal certificate,” he said.
