KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 ― There is no need for pig logos to be placed on products made from pig parts, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said today.

Following a suggestion from the Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia (PPIM) for such logos, Hamzah said labels denoting which animals certain products were made of was enough to inform consumers.

"There doesn't need to be a logo to show this product was made of pigs; labels are enough,” he said.

"We never insisted that brushes with animal bristles should have halal logos,” he added.

Malay Mail Online obtained a recording of the press conference.

Over the weekend, enforcement officials from the ministry stirred controversy after they seized during raids against stores nationwide paintbrushes made from pig bristles.

Hamzah said that traders could just state whether the goods they are selling is made using animal parts or not.

"If they are not sure, just state that that it is not sure whether this product has animal parts,” he said.

He also said there is no need to label halal and haram (forbidden for Muslims) for non-food products.

"If it is food, it is better to have the halal logo, but if it is non-food items, labelling is enough,” he said.

"If a shoe is made of pigskin, do we want to label a shoe as haram?” he asked.