Author
Dr ANGELINA ANNE FERNANDEZ
Organisation/Institution
MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
Country
MALAYSIA
Panel
Miscellaneous
Title
FOOD SAFETY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON LAWS ON FOOD SAFETY MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA
Abstract
Food involves the health, life expectancy, productivity and trade of a country. The primary legislation governing food safety is the Malaysian Food Act 1983 and the Food Regulations 1985. The Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD) plays a pivotal role in ensuring quality food. There are various Organizations namely Standard Users, Consumer Association of Penang, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) and Department of Standards Malaysia. The first issue in food safety is that it revolves on proactive and pragmatic efforts. Our food laws have to correlate with science and technology. The second issue is that Malaysia has to heighten efforts on enforcement and supervise food safety and quality. The next issue is that the unscrupulous food manufacturer’s names should be published in the newspapers and the FSQD website. The following issue is that there is less cooperation between the Governmental and Non-Governmental bodies. This research reviews our domestic laws namely our Malaysian Food Act 1983 and international laws namely the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Technical Barrier to Trade agreement plus the food legislations in Indonesia. The research forwards suggestions on how efforts on enforcement of food safety can be heightened. This article applies doctrinal legal approach and utilizes the historical approach, jurisprudential approach and analytical and critical comparative with Indonesia food legislations. It is crucial for FSQD and NGOs such as Consumer Association of Penang and National Consumer Complaints Centre to work together in educating the consumers on food safety. The term all reasonable steps in section 23 of the Food Act 1983 have not been predefined in the act.
Biography
Dr. Angelina Anne Fernandez is a distinguished Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies, Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia. With a robust academic background, she holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Master of Laws (LLM), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law, all conferred by the National University of Malaysia (UKM). Her research and teaching expertise encompass several specialized areas, including food law, labour law, cyber law, and medical law. Dr. Angelina is widely recognized for her scholarly contributions to the fields of food safety regulation, digital governance, and the legal dimensions of sports and healthcare. Throughout her academic career, she has authored numerous publications and delivered lectures both locally and internationally, focusing on contemporary legal challenges in the intersection of law, technology, and society. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing legal scholarship and contributing to Malaysia’s evolving legal landscape through research, education, and policy engagement.
