SPECIAL ACT TO REGULATE IMPORTED AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- All imported agriculture products would be required to be graded, packed and labelled when the government enforces regulations under a Special Act (3P) starting July.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Rohani Abdul Karim
said the move was to regulate imported agriculture products and prevent
imports that do not meet the specified regulations.

"We have also set up the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services
(MAQIS) to beef up enforcement and ensure that agricultural produce entering the
country at 52 entry points are safe and of good quality," Rohani told the Lower
House of Parliament when answering Member of Parliament Abd Rahman Dahlan's
question here Thursday.

Abd Rahman had wanted to know the steps and initiative taken by the
government to ensure the safety of imported agriculture products.

Rohani said the government had always encouraged farmers, fish breeders
and poultry owners to ensure that their products met the standard, quality, and
guidelines set so as to be accepted by other countries.

The deputy minister added that other countries have also set very
stringent regulations for products that they wished to import.
-- BERNAMA