21 Chilli Samples Being Sold In The Market Found To Contain Pesticide Residues
The Director-General of Health said that MOH's Food Safety and Quality Division had been monitoring imported chillies at the country's borders and local markets.
By Sadho Ram — 22 Dec 2018, 05:21 PM
Earlier today, 22 December, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the Director-General of Health, confirmed that 21 chilli samples being sold in the market failed to comply with the standards under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 relating to pesticide residues
Dr Noor Hisham said that the MOH's Food Safety and Quality Division had been monitoring imported chillies at the country's borders and local markets.
"The monitoring started since January, and 503 chilli samples including chillies from Vietnam have been analysed and the result found 21 samples did not comply with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 requirements relating to pesticide residues.
"Enforcement actions have already been taken. MOH will continue to monitor vegetables including chillies to ensure compliance with the act," Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement today, 22 December, according to a report in Bernama.
Yesterday, 21 December, a local newspaper had reported that smuggled red chilli from Vietnam was found to be sold nation-wide
This was happening despite the government's suspension of the import permit on the commodity since 14 September. Malaysia started importing Vietnamese chillies in 2016.
According to Dr Noor Hisham, all imported foods were subject to the law and it was the responsibility of the related parties to ensure compliance with legislation.
He said that failure to comply with the regulations is an offence and if convicted, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not up to three years or a fine or both.
