Latest news with #InspectorateandLegalUnit
Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Food export company fined RM21,000 for using banned sweeter in products
File photo for illustration purposes KUCHING (June 23): A food export company was today fined RM21,000 by the Magistrates' Courts here for seven offences under the Food Regulations 1985. Magistrates Ling Hui Chuan and Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan imposed the fines after the company's representative pleaded guilty to the charges in two separate courts. The accused was fined RM3,000 for each charge, amounting to a total fine of RM21,000, by the Magistrates' Court. According to the facts of the case, samples of the preserved food products from the company were collected and sent for analysis on Nov 29, 2024. The analysis revealed that the samples contained cyclamate, a non-nutritive sweetener prohibited in food under Regulation 133(3) of the Food Regulations 1985. This regulation states that no person shall import, prepare, advertise for sale, or sell any food to which a non-nutritive sweetener has been added, except as otherwise permitted by the same regulation. Prosecuting Officer Mohd Fairos Ibrahim, from the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of the Kuching Divisional Health Office, informed the court during proceedings that cyclamate is an artificial sweetener commonly used in low-calorie food and beverages as a sugar substitute. 'Its sweetness is 30 to 50 times greater than sugar, making it a popular choice in products such as soft drinks, sweets, and sugar-free sweetened foods. 'The use of cyclamate in food is strictly regulated and is not permitted in fresh fruit, including peeled or ready-to-eat fruit. Long-term excessive consumption may pose health risks and is associated with an increased risk of cancer,' he said. The prosecution requested that the accused be given an appropriate sentence as a deterrent. In addition, the sentence is intended to serve as a warning not only to the accused but also to other importers, reminding them to exercise caution when importing food into Malaysia and to take necessary steps before allowing samples to enter the country. Court crime food exporter food products
Borneo Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Company in Kuching fined for importing, selling mandarin oranges with excessive pesticide
Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan imposed the fine after the company via a representative pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law. — Pexels photo KUCHING (June 9): A food importing company was fined RM4,000 by the Magistrates' Court here today for importing and selling mandarin oranges containing pesticide residue exceeding the permitted limit. Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan imposed the fine after the company via a representative pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law. According to the facts of the case, a fresh sample of the mandarin oranges was taken on Dec 20, 2024 and sent for a laboratory analysis. The test results revealed the presence of 0.02mg/kg of Organophosphorus/Chlorpyrifos pesticide residue, which exceeded the permissible limit under Regulation 41(3)(c) of the Food Regulations 1985. The Regulation stipulates that no person shall prepare for sale any food containing 0.01 milligrammes or more per kilogramme of any pesticide residue, unless that pesticide is specified for that food in the Sixteenth Schedule or the Codex Alimentarius. During court proceedings, prosecuting officer Mohd Fairos Ibrahim from the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of the Kuching Division Health Office informed the court that exposure to pesticides in excessive or prolonged amounts could pose health risks and harm human organs. He urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent to the accused. Mohd Fairos added that an appropriate sentence would also serve as a warning to other importers to exercise greater caution when bringing food products into Malaysia, and to ensure proper measures are taken before importing samples. company exceed oranges permitted limit pesticide residue
Borneo Post
29-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Kuching farm operator fined RM5,000 for excessive pesticide residue in vegetables
Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali imposed the fine after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and was sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law. KUCHING (May 29): The Magistrates' Court here yesterday fined a vegetable farm operator RM5,000 for selling vegetables containing pesticide residue exceeding the permitted limit. Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali imposed the fine after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and was sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law. According to the case facts, a sample of kailan taken on Dec 2, 2024, was sent for laboratory analysis, which revealed that the vegetable contained 0.198 mg/kg of the pesticide residue Pencycuron—exceeding the permissible standard set under Regulation 41(3)(c) of the Food Regulations 1985 The regulation states that no person shall prepare for sale any food containing 0.01 milligrams or more per kilogramme of pesticide residue if the pesticide is not listed for that food in the Sixteenth Schedule or the Codex Alimentarius. During the court proceedings, prosecuting officer Mohd Fairos Ibrahim from the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of the Kuching Division Health Office urged that a fitting punishment be imposed as a lesson to the accused. He added that this would also serve as a warning to other operators to comply with the established regulations in the interest of public health. excessive pesticide residue fined lead vegetable farm operator
