GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER LOWER FEE FOR FOOD HANDLING COURSE

BERNAMA; Malaysian National News Agency, Nov 29, 2008 from BERNAMA,

The Malaysian National News Agency KUANTAN, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will consider reducing the fee for food handling course to ease the burden of food operators and workers involve in the industry, its minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said today.

He said this followed complaints from several associations here which felt that the current fee of RM80 per person was too high and a burden to food operators in having to bear the cost for their workers, most of whom would not stay long at the job.
"The ministry is concern with the problem and I'll instruct the health director to look into ways of reducing the fee," he told reporters after a meeting with members of the Kuantan Petty Traders and Hawkers Association, the Kuantan Chef Association, as well as hotel and restaurant operators here last night.

However, Liow said the government had taken into account the matter by making it compulsory for food handlers to attend the course only once.
On a request from the associations for the ministry to allow employers to conduct their own internal course on food handling for their workers, Liow said it was difficult for the ministry to allow them to do so with many food poisoning cases still occurring in the country.

He said the ministry would also have to study the employers' compliance to the course modules should they be allowed to conduct their own courses.
On another matter, Liow said the ministry would step up enforcement on the smoking ban at five foot ways of shopping complexes.

"The smoking ban along five foot ways only affect those around shopping centres. It does not involve at restaurants and other food premises," he said when asked on the ban which seemed not to be heeded by the public.
Copyright 2008 Bernama