BUTTERWORTH: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) has seized 1,449 boxes of frozen buffalo meat from India at the North Butterworth Container Terminal here.

       State Maqis director Noriah Dahlan said the items were labeled with misleading information, as the halal certificate issued from the exporting country was inaccurate and different from the labeling details on the imported merchandise packages.

       “The frozen meat was seized at around 5.45pm on Tuesday (June 22).

       “The meat, weighing 27,998kg, was estimated to be worth RM427,691.57.

       “The use of inaccurate and misleading information on halal certificates will be investigated under Section 13 of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act,'' she said in a statement on Thursday (June 24).

       Under the Act, any person who provides false, inaccurate or misleading information in the importation of agricultural products is an offence.

       Offenders face a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term of up to two years or both, if convicted.

       Noriah said imported agricultural products would be inspected at the entrance into the country to ensure that plants, animals, carcasses, fish and microorganisms were free from the threat of pests, diseases and contaminants.