Halal-certified Food Courts

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what is MUIS' position on food courts that market themselves as h alal outlets when only individual stall operators within these outlets are halal -certified; and (b) how can MUIS assure the public that such food courts or outlets are audited regularly to back their claims as halal certification is given to individual stalls which turn over on an ongoing basis.

The Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Sir, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, or MUIS, administers and regulates halal certification in Singapore. It issues individual halal certificates to a stall holder, food company or any other eating establishment that complies with the terms and conditions of its halal certification system. In the case of a food court, only individual stalls are issued with the halal certificates. Hence, it is misleading for a food court to claim that it has been halal -certified.

MUIS is committed to ensuring the integrity of the more than 2,700 halal certificates issued. Periodic and surprise inspections are conducted regularly to ensure that the halal certificate holders comply with the conditions. In 2011, 7,000 such inspections were carried out. MUIS views any breach of its halal certification system seriously and investigates all complaints by members of the public for any infringements of conditions or misuse of its halal certification mark. In 2011, 21 halal certificate holders were found to be in breach. Of these, 14 had their certificates suspended while seven were issued with a warning.

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Food operators and members of the public can play a part in maintaining the integrity of Singapore's halal certification system. Halal certificate holders should ensure timely renewal of their halal certification. As halal certificate holders are required to display the halal certificates prominently, Muslim customers can check that the food outlets have a valid h alal certificate before patronising them.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang): I thank the Minister for his reply. I am heartened to hear that the amount of enforcement is quite significant. But there is a certain perception among the community that MUIS does not go around to enforce and check. Could the Minister inform us how we could enlighten the community on how they could enforce their rights and, if possible, contact MUIS? Also, how do we ensure the accountability on the part of halal food providers?

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, on the integrity of the system, we take a three-pronged approach. First of all, MUIS conducts both announced and unannounced visit to the halal -certified premises. More inspections will be carried out for food establishments that were found to have not complied with prescribed conditions and these, of course, are investigated for infringements. As for those who are dealing with meat-based products, we take a stricter view of such outlets and will be inspected more often. MUIS also investigates every complaint that it receives. So, the role of the public is also very important and we hope that members of the public can continue to provide feedback to MUIS. There are channels in which they can register their complaints either through a phone call or an email on the MUIS' website.

Finally, Sir, we expect the certificate holders themselves will play their part by strictly complying with all the conditions at all times and, more importantly, to display their halal -mark, which has been certified by MUIS, timely. And if it needs to be renewed, we will keep them informed, in fact, three months ahead of the next renewal. So, the system is in place to ensure that there is timely renewal and information regarding whether or not the premise is halal -certified. In terms of inspection, we will continue to step up especially the unannounced inspection. Really, this is dependent upon the number of people that we have on the ground. We have been working with some other partners to ensure that we can step up our inspections across the board.