KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 ― Federal Islamic authorities said there were no official complaints about eateries displaying “pork-free” signs, following a ministry’s argument that such signages risked confusing Muslims.

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) also said that the “halal” label did not only revolve around the absence of pork, which is forbidden in Islam, but encompassed other aspects of food products and preparation.

“The issue of the ‘pork-free’ signage on restaurants has been spread out through media and comments by various parties. It has not been lodged with Jakim officially,” a spokesman from the department’s Halal Hub Division said in a written response to Malay Mail Online.

When asked if there was a ban against Muslims visiting food outlets that displayed “pork-free” signs but were not certified halal, the spokesman said: “Islamic thought [teaches] Muslims to consume only Halal food. Muslims need to avoid to eat non-halal food as stated in the Shariah Law.”

According to Jakim’s Halal Hub Division, only Malaysia’s Halal Certification Logo may be used to denote that a food or product is halal, or permissible, in Islam.

“Halal is a complete chain of food processing which cater from the source of all ingredients/additives, processes, packaging, storage and transportation. It not only means that the product is pork-free,” the spokesman said.

When asked if it was an offence for food outlets without halal certification to display “pork-free” signs, the spokesman said the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 would be applicable in general.

The spokesman also highlighted Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011’s paragraph 3(1) that sets out conditions that must be met “when food or goods are describe as halal or are described in any other expression to indicate that the food or goods can be consumed or used by a Muslim”.

“It can be interpreted that any statement/sign which comes to confuse the consumer, is an offence under this order,” the spokesman said.

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said Tuesday that the use of pork-free signs at food outlets that do not have the halal certification risked causing confusion among consumers in Malaysia, particularly Muslims.

Advising consumers to be wise in their food choices and to use the Halal Malaysia logo as their guide for food that is guaranteed to be halal and clean, Othman said the application process for halal certification has been simplified with an e-halal system.

National news agency Bernama quoted Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin as saying Tuesday that his ministry will select a specific definition to avoid any confusion over “pork free” signs at eateries.

The ministry’s enforcement chief had reportedly said last weekend that action can be taken against restaurants sporting the pork-free sign for allegedly attempting to confuse Muslims, citing the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 that punishes first-time offenders with a maximum RM5 million fine for companies, or a a maximum RM1 million fine or maximum three-year jail term for non-corporate bodies.

Lawyers contacted by Malay Mail Online, however, argued that eateries displaying “pork-free” signs would only be breaking the law if they misrepresented themselves and served pork.