| Azlan Othman |

CREAMY candy sweets of the White Rabbit brand from China sent for a laboratory analysis by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) through the Halal Food Control Division to the Ministry of Health’s Scientific Services Department found the sweet containing pig protein.

The MoRA, following the findings, sought importers and retailers’ cooperation to isolate the product and to place it in a non-Halal section.

The MoRA urged the product importers to take steps to label the ingredients and contents of the product in English or Malay responsibly and transparently.

The labelling facilitates the public to know the product’s ingredients and make the right choice before buying them.

Incorrect, confusing and deceiving labelling is an offence under provision 9 (b) Public Health (Food) Act Chapter 182.

This includes labelling, packaging, providing, selling or advertising any food in a wrong manner, confusing and deceiving on the characteristic, type, ingredient, quality, composition, merit or safety, strength, weight, origin, period and rate or violating Section 10 or other provisions in this Act.

Such an offence can lead to imprisonment of five years or fine or both.

The MoRA also reminded the public, especially Muslims in the country, to be cautious when choosing or buying food and drink products available in the market by ensuring the product has Halal certification from approved certification bodies.

The MoRA also stressed that it is an offence for retailers that have the Halal certificate and permit to sell, serve or use food products that are yet to be approved by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

Legal action can be taken in this regard under Section 37 of Halal Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005 and those found guilty can be fined not more than BND8,000, imprisonment of not more than two years or both.