KUALA LUMPUR: A voluntary programme aimed at promoting clean and safe food preparation practices has been introduced for home-based food operators, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni announced. The initiative seeks to enhance the food safety standards among home entrepreneurs without imposing mandatory requirements similar to other certifications by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme, initiated in April 2021, does not legally mandate participation, unlike the Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry (MeSTI) certification or the Clean and Safe (BeSS) recognition. The Deputy Health Minister emphasized the MOH’s commitment to increasing participation through self-compliance measures and awareness campaigns about clean and safe food preparation techniques.

“The MOH is committed to further increasing the participation of home-based food entrepreneurs in the programme. As an initial step, the MOH has adopted a self-compliance approach along with
ongoing awareness promotion activities on clean and safe food preparation,” Lukanisman stated during a question and answer session. He was responding to a query from Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju) regarding the potential for making the Home-based Food Operators Listing Programme mandatory.

Lukanisman highlighted that any conditions or regulations imposed on voluntary participants are designed to avoid hindering the economic growth of the micro-scale food industry. He also noted that the basic requirements under the 2009 Food Hygiene Regulations remain compulsory for all food handlers, including training and vaccinations, irrespective of MOH certification status.