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SANDAKAN – Food processing factories here still lack the motivation to acquire the Food Safety Assurance Programme (PJKM) certificate, even though it is compulsory for all food factories in the country.
Sandakan district health officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said out of 96 food factories in the district, only 40% have acquired the PJKM certificate.
Johari said this is worrying, as the Health Office must ensure the safety and quality of food in the district.
As such, the office has been actively going on inspections in factories this year.
Yesterday, a poultry slaughterhouse here was issued with a RM2,500 compound for not possessing the certificate. This instance was despite the factory being given a warning by health officials last month.
“Many factory owners are like this; they don’t take action even after we visit the factories.
“They don’t even bother to inquire how to acquire the certificate.
“We cannot be telling them what to do with their factories every day. They must put in the effort and initiative to acquire the certificate.
“After all, we (Sandakan Health Office) will always be ready to assist them,” he said at a press conference after inspecting the poultry slaughterhouse here.
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Johari said without the PJKM certificate, the health enforcement officers would have to deduct the inspection rating by 30%, which leaves a factory with only 70% before further deduction.
A factory will be ordered shut if the inspection rating falls below 60%.
“It is not merely a documentation procedure.
“Factories with PJKM certificates would be following the proper guidelines, such as appointing a control officer who would be in charge of daily inspection at their own factories to ensure cleanliness and safety of all processes in the factories.
“This would ensure the food safety and quality in the area,” he added.
He also said the Sandakan Health Office found that factories that have PJKM certificates are excellent in keeping their compound clean and tools safe in accordance with the guidelines that would guarantee good quality and safe food products for consumers here.
Johari urged Sandakan food factory owners to contact the Sandakan health office or learn from existing PJKM certificate owners to acquire PJKM certificates as soon as possible because the office will be actively conducting inspections and will be issuing compounds of up to RM2,500 to those without the certificate.
Two weeks ago, the Sandakan Health Office ordered three bread factories to shut down for not possessing a PJKM certificate in addition to unsatisfactory cleanliness. – The Vibes, September 28, 2022
