Malaysia’s Health Ministry will gain stronger powers to close unsafe food premises and publicise dangerous food products under proposed Food Act amendments.
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry will have stronger powers to shut down food premises serving food containing harmful substances and publicise information about dangerous food products without waiting for a court order under proposed amendments to the Food Act 1983.
The Food (Amendment) Bill 2026, tabled by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat during the current sitting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament.
In a statement today, the ministry said the amendments were necessary to strengthen food safety controls and better protect public health amid evolving challenges that existing provisions might no longer adequately address.
“The existing provisions under the Act are no longer sufficient to address current food safety challenges to protect public health,” it said.
The ministry added that the amendments would strengthen food safety controls and protect the public’s rights and interests in obtaining safe food in the market.
The Food Act 1983, which safeguards the public against health hazards arising from food and fraud in its preparation, sale and consumption, has not undergone a comprehensive review since it was enacted 43 years ago, the ministry said.
Among the key changes is stronger regulation of food-contact materials, including gloves and plastic food packaging, which were previously not subject to comprehensive controls.
The amendments would also strengthen the powers of the director-general of health to address food products that pose risks to public health.
These include allowing the closure of food premises found to be serving food containing harmful substances, as well as enabling information about such products to be made public without waiting for a court order.
The Bill also provides for stronger enforcement measures and a review of existing penalties.
The ministry said the measures were part of its proactive efforts to strengthen food safety regulations and ensure better protection for consumers.
The Bill will next be debated in the Dewan Negara during the same parliamentary session.
