Director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry’s food safety and quality division had been monitoring imported chillies at the country’s borders and local markets.

“The monitoring had started in January. A total of 503 chilli samples, including those from Vietnam, were analysed and the result found 21 samples (4.2%) did not comply with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 requirements relating to pesticide residues.

“Enforcement action has already been taken.

“The ministry will continue to monitor vegetables, including chillies, to ensure compliance with the act,” he said in a statement today.

Hisham said all imported foods are subject to the law and it was the responsibility of the related parties to ensure compliance with legislation.

He explained that failure to comply with the regulations is an offence and, if convicted, the offenders are liable to imprisonment for a term not up to three years or a fine or both.

The public with concerns about food safety issues may contact the nearest district health office or the state’s Health Department.

They can also contact the ministry at http://moh.spab.gov.my or food safety and quality division’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bkkmhq.

Yesterday, a local newspaper reported that smuggled red chillies from Vietnam were found to be sold nationwide despite the government’s suspension of the import permit for the commodity since Sept 14.