Materia Medica Malaysiana

Domestic Trade Ministry to cooperate in beta-agonist issue

KUALA LUMPUR June 10 - Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Mohamed Shafie Apdal has expressed his ministry's readiness to cooperate with the Health Ministry to curb illegal use of beta-agonist by livestock farmers.

"We can help the Health Minstry by withdrawing meat tainted with beta-agonist from the market," Mohamed Shafie told reporters after officiating his ministry's annual consultation with the private sector here.

Beta-agonist, a drug used by asthma patients as a broncho-dilator, is also added to meat by livestock farmers to make it lean and more palatable.

Wednesday Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said a joint committee would be formed to monitor the use of the drug on meat, amidst concerns about its possible harmful side-effects on consumers.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Shafie said one way of promoting participation of Bumiputera Small and Medium Industries (SMIs) in business was to market more locally-made products in hypermarkets.

This, he said, could enhance Bumiputera entrepreneurs'direct involvement with hypermarkets.

"We could make it a condition for hypermarkets to give SMIs a chance to market their products, and everyone concerned should cooperate by ensuring the products are reasonably priced," he said.

In his speech earlier, Shafie said the wholesale and retail, hotel and restaurant sub-sectors grew by 5.6 per cent compared to 3.1 per cent for the same period last year.

This positive development, he said, reflected increased consumer confidence with an improving economy, and augured well for his ministry's efforts to promote domestic trade.