RM435,000 worth of buffalo meat seized over wrongful declaration

RM435,000 worth of buffalo meat seized over wrongful declaration

Quarantine inspectors seize 30 tonne shipment at Butterworth port after finding discrepancies in forms submitted.

The North Butterworth Container Terminal where the meat was seized. (Bernama pic)
GEORGE TOWN:
Thirty tonnes of frozen buffalo meat from India worth close to half a million ringgit have been seized by quarantine inspectors at the Butterworth port after its importers were found to have allegedly wrongly declared a key detail in a form.

Malaysian Quarantine Inspection Services (MAQIS) officers found the details of the meat on the declaration form to be different to that stated on the packaging.

When contacted, Penang MAQIS director Zarina Ramli said the name of the slaughterhouse on the packed frozen meats was not on the Veterinary Services Department’s approved list but the name on the form was.

The frozen buffalo meat seized by quarantine inspectors.

She said a total of 27,996kg of meat worth RM435,927 was seized on Tuesday at the North Butterworth Container Terminal.

Under Section 13 of the MAQIS Act 2011, it is an offence to provide a false permit, licence and certificate to MAQIS at ports of entry.

This declaration covers any plant, animal, carcass, fish, agricultural produce, soil sample or microorganism. It carries a RM50,000 fine or two years’ jail upon conviction.

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