Counterfeit bags aren’t the only contraband being shilled to consumers: As of August, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry seized 17 million products that were emblazoned with fake halal logos.
Speaking at the announcement of Halfest Giant 2018 Halal Expo, to be held later this month in Kuala Lumpur for five days starting September 26, he told attendees that the ministry had received reports of 41 cases of fake logos being used by unscrupulous traders.
In July, police busted a local snack food factory that had been in operation for over 20 years for using expired and fake halal certificates.
While religious implications of actual non-halal status may be the worry of many, the ministry’s secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz has pointed out that the use of fake logos directly effects the ability to collect a portion of the RM2.3 trillion (US$560 billion) that halal goods add to the world economy each year.
Consisting products also including finance, tourism, fashion, media, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics researchers project that it will generate an eye-watering US$3 trillion globally by 2021.
That being said, the real McCoy logo doesn’t come free, y’all and businesses wishing to deem their products “halal” in Malaysia need to apply for a halal certificate to do so, at a cost.
Using faux insignia has been an offense since the Trade Description Act was put into effect in 2011.
Organizers hope that the expo, now in its seventh year, will boost competitiveness of halal product traders, and that they can share ideas with each other during the event. One hundred and fifty thousand attendees are expected, with 677 booths offering their wares at discounted prices.
Are you a business owner, seeking halal certification? Well, the government has simplified the process, and if you’re curious as to how to go about getting a (legit) insignia for your goods, look no further than this handy-dandy flow chart made by RicebowlAsia.com:
