Government May Increase Fines for Vendors & Individuals Who Misuse Halal Logo to Mislead Muslims

Issues related to the use of Halal logos have been making headlines recently, with numerous eateries being caught misusing them.

To address the issue, the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, revealed that the government is considering raising the fine for the misuse of the halal logo, as reported by BERNAMA.

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“We hope these fines will prevent misuse of the halal logo”

This came after Deputy Mufti of the Federal Territories, Jamali Mohd Adnan, proposed that KPDN and JAKIM review the possibility of raising the fines if such offences continue to rise.

Armizan pointed out that the current penalties for misusing the halal logo are already hefty.

He explained that under the Trade Descriptions (Halal Definition) Order 2011, companies can be fined up to RM5 million, while individuals could face fines of up to RM1 million or even up to 3 years in prison.

“Anyone found misleading Muslims about halal matters can face fines, and we hope these penalties will discourage people from misusing the halal logo,” he added.

A company could face a RM500,000 fine

Armizan explained that under the Trade Descriptions (Halal Certification and Marking) Order 2011, a company could be fined up to RM200,000 for certain offences, and the penalty could be RM500,000 for more serious violations.

As for individuals, the fine could be as high as RM100,000, one year in prison, or both. For other offences, the penalty could include a fine of up to RM250,000, five years in prison, or both.

He also mentioned that KPDN is open to constructive suggestions that could help improve public compliance when it comes to the misuse of the halal logo.

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