Penang To Establish District Slaughterhouses To Boost Food Safety - State Exco

GEORGE TOWN, June 30 (Bernama) -- Penang is planning to establish a slaughterhouse in every district to strengthen the livestock industry ecosystem, enhance food safety and ensure slaughtering activities are carried out in a more systematic, hygienic and syariah-compliant manner.

State Rural Development, Agrotechnology and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol said the initiative would involve strategic collaboration among various departments to ensure the facilities meet technical, public health, waste management, animal welfare and syariah compliance requirements.

"At present, slaughtering activities in several areas are still carried out on a small scale to meet local needs.

"Although most operators comply with the established guidelines, the state government believes the time has come to adopt a more systematic and centralised approach to ensure uniform standards are implemented throughout the state," he said in a statement today.

He said the facilities would provide not only slaughtering services for livestock such as cattle, goats and buffaloes, but also veterinary inspections, animal health monitoring, disease control, efficient waste management and processing facilities that meet hygiene and food safety standards.

Rashidi said every animal brought to the facilities would undergo veterinary inspections before and after slaughter to ensure only healthy livestock entered the consumer food supply chain.

He said the initiative would also strengthen compliance with halal slaughtering procedures through the involvement of the Penang State Islamic Religious Affairs Department in monitoring certified slaughterers, slaughtering methods and syariah requirements.

He said the facilities are expected to benefit livestock farmers and local entrepreneurs by reducing their reliance on limited slaughtering facilities located far from their operations.

Besides ensuring a safe and quality meat supply, the slaughterhouses could also spur the development of livestock-based downstream industries, including food processing, frozen products, packaging and halal logistics, creating jobs and boosting the income of local entrepreneurs.

Rashidi said environmental sustainability had also been incorporated into the plan through more efficient waste management, water and air pollution control, and compliance with requirements set by local authorities and relevant agencies.

He added that engagement sessions would be held with livestock farmers, industry players, local authorities, technical agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the project is implemented smoothly and meets the needs of all parties.

-- BERNAMA