Grace period over for labelling of paint brushes
SIBU: Traders yet to label and segregate paint brushes made from pig bristles or hair of dogs are reminded to do so immediately or face action during inspection.
Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ( KPDNKK) Sibu branch chief Kasim Mana said yesterday there would be no further reminder as the two-week grace period from Feb 25 had ended.
“The two-weeks grace period is over, thus action will be taken accordingly. Traders who have yet to do proper labelling and segregation, are reminded to do so now and not wait until the ministry check their premises to implement the required steps.
“This is because there will be no more reminder as action will be taken against them since the two-week period is up,” he said.
According to Kasim, following an announcement by Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, their officers had been going all out to check on paint brushes made from bristles of pigs and hair of dogs. He reiterated there was no need for traders to label them as ‘halal’ or ‘non-halal’.
Instead, traders are expected to just do proper labelling to indicate if a paint brush is made from pig bristles or dog’s hair. These brushes are then to be segregated from others to avoid confusion.
Kasim warned that action could be taken under Section 8 ( a) of Trade Descriptions (Certification And Marking Of Halal) Order 2011, which stipulates that if such a person is not a corporate body, a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or jailed not more than three years or both, upon conviction.
As for a second or subsequent offence, a person can be fined up to RM250,000 or sentenced to not more than five years’ jail or both.
As for a corporate body, he warned that it could be fined up to RM200,000 for the offence, and up to RM500,000 for second or subsequent offences, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, early last month when carrying out checks on hardware shops in Kuching, state KPDNKK chief enforcement officer Abd Hafidz A Rahim reportedly said under Trade Descriptions Act 2013, goods made from parts of pigs or dogs could be sold as long as they were displayed separately from other items and labelled ‘Made of Pig’ or ‘Made of Dog’ or any label with the same message.
Abd Hafidz was further quoted to have said the labels must be visible and written or printed in a font size of not less than 10mm and written in the national language besides other languages.