Malaysia: Imports of counterfeit halal meat disclosed

A meat scandal broke out in the last days of December, after a local newspaper reported that a cartel that had operated for over 40 years had illegally imported frozen meat into the country from uncertified sources. According to an anonymous informant quoted by The New Straits Times, as beef, kangaroo and horse meat were often placed on the market. In addition, the products did not come from countries from which the import of such food is allowed. The smuggled frozen food was to be mixed with legally imported ones and stamped with false halal certificates. Halal certificate is awarded to meat from animals killed according to the rules of Muslim ritual slaughter. Muslims are over 60 percent. Malaysians. According to an anonymous informant from a Malaysian newspaper, the cartel obtained a product that was half the price of a product from approved suppliers. Bribed border guards and the heads of at least four governmental institutions responsible for food certification were to be ...