Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainudin said traders were given one month to comply with the rules.

“If they follow the rules, we will return them (the seized items) and if they fail to do so, we will consider it as evidence for further action to be taken,” he said when replying to a supplementary question from Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya) during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Hee wanted to know if the ministry had returned the pig bristle paintbrushes seized in 37 separate cases recorded nationwide.

Hamzah said the display as well as the marking and labelling of goods manufactured from parts of pigs and dogs were important to avoid confusion among the people.

The ministry gave all retailers a one-month period, beginning Feb 9 to label products containing non-halal elements, including items made from pig parts so that Muslim consumers would be alerted by it.