The Food Bill 2026, which seeks to expand enforcement powers over food safety including investigations involving food contact materials and online transactions, was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the Bill, which proposes amendments to the Food Act 1983 (Act 281), would be debated for its second and third readings during the current parliamentary session, Bernama reported.
Under the proposed amendments, the Health Minister would be empowered to authorise public officers to obtain samples of food contact materials that could affect consumers’ public interest.
The Bill also seeks to expand the powers of authorised officers to investigate food and food contact materials, address advertising issues and summon people with knowledge of a case.
Another amendment would allow authorised officers to access recorded information, computerised data and digital data during investigations, in line with the growth of online transactions.
The Bill also proposes a new provision allowing premises used to prepare or sell food containing substances harmful to health to be closed.
Amendments to provisions on food labelling would also extend requirements covering food contact materials, including cases involving non-compliant and false labelling.
