Food operators in Kelantan will have to apply for Halal certificates to continue running their businesses. This comes as a new condition to renew their business licenses.
State Islamic Development, Da’wah, Information and Public Relations Committee Exco, Mohd Asri Mat Daud said that the local authority, the Kota Bharu Islamic City Municipal Council (MPKB-BRI), has made this mandatory, reported Sinar Harian and on the official website of the National Security Council (MKN).
This will later be expanded to all local councils in Kelantan.
The Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department is also making it easier for small businesses to obtain a Halal certificate
“The Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaheaik) is also opening up opportunities to obtain halal certificates for small industries, hotels and individuals who operate food and beverage products at home,” Asri added.
Asri also said that from January to December this year, 453 premises in Kelantan have been recognised as the holder of the Malaysian Halal Verification Certificate (SPHM).
198 of the certificate holders are located in Kota Bharu, and about 80% of the holders are Muslim operators, while the rest are non-Muslims.
Asri added that in Kelantan, there’s no issue about non-Muslims feeling the Halal requirement as ‘rigid’, as the community in the state accepts the matter.
He also revealed that Jaheaik will do random spot-checks every year to check on F&B businesses’ Halal certifications.
As of November this year, JAKIM’s Halal certificates are issued to more non-Bumiputera operators, which is equivalent to 57% of companies in Malaysia. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said this figure was recorded from 9,520 companies registered as holders of the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM) as of 10 November.
What do you think of the mandatory rule of having Halal certificates for eateries?
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