Grub’s up: A file photo of people buying food on the first day of Ramadan at a Ramadan bazaar in Chendering, Kuala Terengganu. Over RM20,800 in fines, primarily over food safety violations, have been issued to bazaar traders from March 2 to March 25. — Bernama
KUALA TERENGGANU: Over RM20,800 in fines have been issued to Ramadan bazaar traders throughout the state, higher than the penalties issued last year, said the Terengganu Health Department (JKNT).
The fines resulted from 148 notices issued from March 2 to March 25, said JKNT director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong.
“The notices were for various offences following inspections at 3,721 Ramadan bazaar sites in the state”, she said, according to Bernama.
The violations included failure to wear proper food handler attire, poor personal hygiene, untrained food handlers and the employment of workers without typhoid vaccinations, she said.
“During Ramadan last year, 170 notices and fines totalling RM17,750 were issued despite repeated reminders to traders to adhere to food safety regulations,” she said at the state-level Food Safety Campaign in conjunction with Ops Aidilfitri 2025 at a supermarket here yesterday.
Kasemani said JKNT had also seized food products worth RM791.49 in Ops Aidilfitri that was carried out at 33 supermarkets, mini-markets and grocery stores starting from March 16.
She said the food products did not comply with packaging and labelling requirements in the Food Regulations Act (PPM) 1985.
Fines valued at RM16,500 have also been issued for offences under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983.
“The main offence is under Regulation 14(9)(b) which is selling expired packed food and Regulation 11(1)(j) which is not having the manufacturer’s name on packs of imported food,” she added.
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