PUTRAJAYA: A newly-developed “DNA fingerprinting” technology will be used to ensure that imported rice sold in Malaysia is not mixed with local rice.
The technology, developed by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), can accurately determine the genetic composition of rice and trace its origins.
The Chemistry Department will also work with Mardi to stop the practice of rice adulteration, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
“This illegal practice of mixing exploits lower-priced local rice for greater profit,” he said.
Armizan said the ministry’s Enforcement Division will focus on rice sold under the “Super Import” category – identified by its blue packaging.
“Rice under this category must contain 100% imported rice. If blue-labelled ‘Super Import’ packs are found to contain local rice, it is against the law,” he added.
The ministry’s enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said 300 bags of rice had been seized from 213 packaging and manufacturing premises under Ops Campur.
“The total value of the seized rice is RM15,321. All the confiscated rice will be sent to Mardi for analysis,” he said.
Ops Campur, conducted in collaboration with Mardi and the Chemistry Department, involves the inspection of 2,000 rice manufacturing and packaging premises, and is expected to be completed within a month.
“A total of 2,400 enforcement officers have been mobilised to collect samples quickly,” Azman added.
Anyone found guilty of mixing rice and selling it under false labels can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to three years, or both.
Companies found guilty can be fined up to RM250,000.
Meanwhile, Mydin Hypermarket managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said the mixing of imported and local rice has long been a common industry practice to maintain quality, not just for profit.
He said many importers mixed local rice with imported rice because the quality of imported rice was often inconsistent.
“Sometimes imported rice, especially from Cambodia or Vietnam, isn’t very good – unless it’s premium,” he said.
Ameer said that while 100% imported rice, such as fragrant or basmati rice, is usually not mixed, the Super Tempatan 5% (ST5) variety is often blended with local rice to improve quality.
“ST5 rice is usually mixed with local rice to reach a better standard. Technically, local rice is a controlled item and shouldn’t be mixed, but everyone in the industry has been doing it,” he said.
He noted that the government’s plans to check the mixing could be challenging.
“There are millions of rice packets sold every day. The only way to control this is to monitor the mills. Enforcement should focus on them, not small traders,” Ameer said.
He also questioned the quality of rice in the market, pointing out that even imported rice often appears to be of substandard quality.
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