BUKIT KAYU HITAM - The Kedah Department of Quarantine and Inspection Services Malaysia (Maqis) thwarted an attempt to import nearly 17 metric tonnes of frozen chicken cuts from Thailand that did not comply with import permit requirements at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) on Wednesday.
Kedah Maqis Director Hisham Abu Bakar stated that the chicken cuts from Thailand were seized following an inspection around 8pm by its officers at the import cargo lane.
He said that a total of 16,896 kilograms (kg) of chicken cuts, valued at RM132,168 did not meet the import requirements, specifically the batch/lot number not matching the declared documents.
"The failure to provide such information is an offence under Section 15(1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 [Act 728].
"If found guilty, individuals could be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding six years, or both, under Section 15(2) of the same act," he said in a statement today.
Hisham added that Maqis remained committed to safeguarding the biosecurity of the nation's food and ensuring compliance with aspects of human, animal, plant, fish health, and food safety.
"Maqis is vigilant in ensuring that plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural products, soil, microorganisms, imported and exported food are free from threats of pests, diseases, contaminants," he said.