The halal enforcement division of the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) is strengthened with the appointment of 222 more trade affairs assistant officers.

“The process (beefing manpower) will take place from time to time, depending on the need of each state in monitoring and enforcing the halal certification,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the National-Level Halal Enforcement Convention 2013 and handing out the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s authority cards to 160 officers via the state religious departments, JAKIM and state religious councils, here, today.

Jamil Khir said with the authority card, the officers had the same authority as the ministry’s enforcement officers in terms of halal certification enforcement after undergoing a course given by the ministry’s enforcement division.

The authority card will enable the enforcement officers to take action against those who flout the rules on halal certification under the Trade Description Act 2011.

*This article was published on The Sun Daily. Read the article here.