Malaysian Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Plastic Recycling Factory

allaboutfeed.net

In a shocking discovery, Malaysian law enforcement agencies have uncovered an illegal plastic recycling factory that was allegedly packaging secondary plastic products into bags labeled as fish feed. The Department of Fisheries has issued a statement urging aquaculture farmers to exercise caution and ensure that purchased fish feed products come from legitimate sources with recognized certifications.

During a raid on a plastic recycling plant in Kuala Muda, Kedah, authorities seized 100 tonnes of plastic pellets that had already been processed and packaged in plastic bags labeled as freshwater fish feed. The packaging was similar to those used by PSJ Feed Sdn Bhd, a prominent fish feed manufacturer.

However, the Department of Fisheries has clarified that the plastic pellets were never meant to be used as fish feed. The packaging used was designed to resemble fish feed bags, causing confusion among farmers who mistakenly believed the plastic pellets were fish feed.

The Department of Fisheries has also emphasized that the recycling plant had no connection to PSJ Feed Sdn Bhd, a legitimate fish feed factory operating in Penang since 2022. Nevertheless, the authorities have promised to initiate an investigation by sampling fish feed from PSJ Feed Sdn Bhd's factory to verify its composition and ensure it contains no plastic.

Tighter Control Ahead

The incident has sparked concerns about the quality of fish feed in the Malaysian market, which has been grappling with the problem of counterfeit feed for years. The Department of Fisheries has announced its collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services and related agencies to enhance supervision of animal feed manufacturing operations, ensuring no harmful substances are used in fish feed production.

The agency has also emphasized its commitment to enforcing and monitoring fish feed factories to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards under the Animal Feeds Act 2009. Market players hope that the authorities will crack down on illegal manufacturers still present in the supply chain.

What You Need to Know

* The Department of Fisheries advises aquaculture farmers to exercise caution and ensure that purchased fish feed products come from legitimate sources with recognized certifications.

* The authorities have seized 100 tonnes of plastic pellets packaged as fish feed and are investigating the matter further.

* The Department of Fisheries has clarified that the plastic pellets were never meant to be used as fish feed and are not connected to PSJ Feed Sdn Bhd, a legitimate fish feed manufacturer.