125,709 Imported Food Have Undergone Safety Test by Fosim

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) - Some 125,709 imported food have been tested by Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (Fosim) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) until Aug. Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said of the amount, nine percent were taken samples for analysis and results found that 1.1 percent violated the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. "For locally produced food, 41,518 food samples were taken for analysis until Sept last year and results found that 4.9 percent violated regulations," he said after launching the Chiropractic and Chinese Medicine Seminar and Workshop 2011 - Traditional and complementary Medicine in Integrated Healthcare: Non-Infectious Diseases at the International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, here Saturday. Liow said the ministry has inspected 30 KR1M food products suppliers and took 93 food samples from 43 products for analysis and found that 13 products did not comply with Food Regulations 1985. As follow-up, MOH yesterday (Dec 2) held a dialogue with all KR1M food suppliers aimed at getting the food industry to comply with regulations. "We will continue to monitor local and imported food products to protect the health of consumers and will act against those who violate food regulations." It has also submitted the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill to the Attorney-General and hopes to table it to parliament early next year. The main objective of the act is to protect the public and instill confidence in traditional medicine. Liow said the act will protect the rights of Malay, Chinese and Indian traditional medical practitioners. "To date, nine hospitals nationwide are offering traditional medical. We plan to make it available at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Baharu by end of the month. MOH also plans to introduce ayurvedic traditional medicine (shirodhara) and chiropractic treatment at Port Dickson Hospital, Negeri Sembilan. - BERNAMA