Halal Feed for Halal Food: An Exploratory Study of the Malaysian Legal and Regulatory Framework on Animal Feed

Abstract

Animal feed is one of the important aspects in halal supply chain. Muslims believe that feeding animal with haram animal by-products will lead to adulteration of the animal which makes the animal unsuitable for Muslim consumption. Offensive findings by Federal Agricultural and Marketing Authority (FAMA) and Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2010 revealed that forty percentage of feed manufacturers in the country use mixed animal-based materials in animal feed, thus creating doubt of the halal integrity of animals fed with such feeds. The issue of cultivated fish being fed with animal by-products (pig intestines) which was exposed in 2006 has exasperating Muslim in the country. Following that, animals that are being fed with non-halal feed were decreed as haram by the Malaysian National Fatwa Council. However, under JAKIM's Halal Certification Procedure Manual, animal feeds are categorized under uncertifiable products. This study attempts to explore and look into the existing Malaysian legal and regulatory framework relating to animal feeding and to describe the importance of halal assurance system in animal feed regulation. The study utilizes qualitative approach using library research. The finding of the study demonstrates that despite the existence of specific legislation governing animal feed-related matters in Malaysia, none of the legislation addresses the issues of halal animal feed in terms of its ingredients, processing, production, etc. The fact that there have been issues arising concerning animal feed in this country dictates that are certain improvements that need to be made to the current legal and regulatory framework on animal feed in Malaysia. These would include inclusion of certain important elements and requirements for the production, importation, manufacture, sale, and use of halal feed. It is further suggested that amendment should also be done to JAKIM's Halal Certification Procedure Manual, wherein the animal feed should be included as one of the products that are certifiable by JAKIM under its halal certification scheme.