KOTA BARU: The Trade Descriptions (Marking of Quantity for Pre-Packaged Goods) Order 2023, which was gazetted on October last year, has come into force on June 4, announced Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister said this Order was to ensure compliance with quantity marking standards on packaging labels for all products and packaged goods sold in the country's market by manufacturers, producers, importers, and wholesalers.
He added that through the implementation of this Order, the ministry's enforcement officers can conduct inspections and test the accuracy of product quantities directly at the manufacturing level.
"This is to prevent fraud involving the actual quantity of available packaged products that will be marketed.
"The enforcement of this Order will help consumers to get clear information regarding the quantity of products.
"At the same, it will increase consumer's confidence in all packaged products available in the market," he said.
Speaking at the launch of the ministry's Eastern zone tour carnival programme here last night, Armizan said the industry also indirectly needs to improve internal control to ensure the quantity of each product available in a package is accurate and does not harm consumers.
"This Order is the country's commitment to harmonise the law measurement (legal metrology) among Asean countries to avoid technical barrier to trade between member countries," he said.
Under the Order, he said actions can be taken against non-compliance manufacturers, producers, importers and wholesalers.
"For the first offence, a company can face a fine not more than RM200,000 and the maximum RM500,000 fine for the second or subsequent offence.
"For individuals who are caught for the first offence, they can be fined not more than RM100,000 or imprisoned not more than three years or both.
"For a second or subsequent offence, a fine not exceeding RM250,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both," he added.
On the carnival, he said the programme in Kelantan began on June 6 and that it will end today (June 8).
"The programme is the second series of the 2024 tour programme organised by the ministry after Perlis which was held for two days beginning May 10.
"It was among the ministry's efforts and it is not a one-off or ceremonial in nature but is closely related to the important agenda of the country initiated by Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) through Madani's economic agenda," he said.
Armizan said the programme was a continuation of the business development programme in the country to convey information and increase awareness among Malaysians especially people in the East Coast states on the ministry's role and core functionality in increasing domestic trade, empowering consumers and dealing with the cost of living.