March 6, 2014
Nearly 80% of Malaysia's poultry slaughterhouses unlicensed and unregistered
Of the 2,000 small-scale poultry slaughterhouses in Malaysia, nearly 80% are neither licensed nor registered with the veterinary services department, with doubtful "halal" status, according to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the ministry wants all state governments to enforce the Poultry Farming Enactment to ensure that all slaughterhouses are licensed and registered to enable the authorities to monitor their operations.
Ismail Sabri said only two states, namely Terengganu and Penang had yet to promulgate the enactment.
"States armed with the enactment should enforce it to enable relevant authorities like the Islamic Development Department and the Veterinary Services Department to monitor the slaughterhouses and take action against errant ones," he said.
Meanwhile, Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Abd Aziz Jamaluddin said errant slaughterhouses could be fined up to MYR2,000 (US$613) while their premises could be closed.
The enforcement is aimed at ensuring the slaughtering of chicken, ducks, quails and turkey abides by Islamic principles, hygiene, and sewage management while the quality and halal status of the products are guaranteed.
