JPHPT confiscates six tonnes of imported chicken meat in Tawau

TAWAU: The Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry (JPHPT) here seized six tonnes of chicken meat in three days of a joint operation to monitor the halal status of goods sold in supermarkets in Tawau since Tuesday.
An officer in the Product Safety Control Unit in JPHPT, Halimah Kanak said the chicken meat which included breasts, bishop's nose, wings and thighs, were seized after they were imported from countries without halal certification or with diseases.
"The chicken meat which was confiscated included those from America, Turkey, Denmark, and Netherlands.
"We seized about 200kg of chicken meat worth RM2,118.40 and yesterday we seized about six tonnes of chicken meat but the value is still being investigated," he told reporters here today.
The four-day joint operation which is expected to end tomorrow, involves the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS), the Health Department and the Tawau Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Office (KPDNKK).
Meanwhile, the Tawau JHEAINS religious administration officer Abdul Imam Basirun said so far, the local chicken meat was not affected and the public should not be worried about the halal status.
"From the operations, we found that the imported chicken meat which was sold illegally was a problem but the local chicken is okay," he said.
He also reminded supermarket premises owners to observe the halal standards by the religious bodies for the good of the people especially Muslim consumers. — Bernama