Jaim director Azhan Samat said the move was in line with the halal certification rules and safeguards the certificate’s integrity, a status not easily obtained.

“All procedures and requirements are set out in the halal certification manual and must be followed by all certificate holders, including keeping raw material storage clean, using halal ingredients, and avoiding banned items in food preparation, such as brushes made from boar bristles,” he told reporters.

He said the halal certification is vital for Muslim consumers and offers commercial benefits to holders, as the certificate assures consumers about their products.

Azhan urged the state’s food and beverage industry to comply with halal certification rules to avoid enforcement actions, including certificate revocation.

He also advised Muslims to check the halal status of any product or eatery via the official portal of the Islamic development department (Jakim).

The coffee and biscuit factory in Melaka had its halal certificate revoked after a Jaim inspection in January found that it was using brushes with bristles believed to be made from pig hair to clean its equipment.

The brushes were seized and sent to the Malaysian Halal Analysis Centre in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, where tests last month confirmed the brushes had pig bristles.