PUTRAJAYA: Mechanisms will be in place to ensure the safety and quality of halal food products and to give a guarantee for halal meats that are imported into the country, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said the mechanisms include imposing a condition where animal-based products that are stored in warehouses must have the Malaysian halal certification.

       Animal-based products that are imported must also use transportation chains that have received the halal certification.

       He added that there will also be a mandatory procedure for re-packaging processes where the companies concerned are compelled to obtain the halal certification under the food-product scheme.

       “The conditions will be enforced following the meat cartel scandal that was uncovered last year,” Ismail Sabri said when launching the National Halal Conference on Tuesday (Nov 23).

       In December last year, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had busted a cartel which had smuggled in frozen kangaroo and horse meat before passing it off as beef by repackaging it using the halal logo.

       The Prime Minister said that Malaysia’s halal market is expected to contribute 8.1% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with export revenue estimated to be RM56bil in 2025.

       He said the potential for the export of halal products was vast and that in 2020 alone, it contributed RM9.7bil to the GDP.

       “Judging from the great potential of the halal industry, agencies and industry players must look at how to boost the marketability of local halal products to international markets,” he said.

       Ismail Sabri noted that with the global halal economy reported to reach RM10 trillion in 2024, it was important for Malaysia’s halal industry players to seize the opportunities and search for innovative ways to tap the international market.