The Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522) does not have clear provisions for prosecuting people involved in the 50-year-old practice of mixing imported white rice and local white rice, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said this situation led to findings from a recent study conducted by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) on samples of imported rice.

Referring to Mardi’s study using DNA sequencing (fingerprinting) technology that was recently revealed, it was found that about 50 per cent of the 5,000 BPI samples seized by authorities had been mixed with BPT.

The ministry said the absence of such provisions made it impossible to take legal action against the offenders.

Taking into account the views of farmers, consumers and the industry, the Madani government takes responsibility to control this practice by refining the directive of the Cabinet committee meeting on the National Food Security Policy to come up with the best methods and mechanisms to curb rice adulteration.

“It needs to be controlled through legislation and drafting comprehensive proposals for appropriate pricing of a mixed rice category for consideration by the Cabinet.

“The (legal) mechanism to control mixing also has the support of the Malaysia Competition Commission as a long-term resolution,” said MAFS.

It said the Special Task Force Integrated Local White Rice Operation found the cause of the local rice shortage was the structural price purchase issues of padi, rice production costs, the ceiling price of BPT, and the lack of a specific provision to prohibit rice-mixing in Act 522.

A general study by MyCC presented at the JKKMN meeting on December 17, 2024, found the mixing has been occurring since 1970 with no efforts made to control this activity.

To find a win-win solution for farmers, industry players and consumers, the Madani government has launched large-scale phased reforms of the padi and rice sector beginning in October 2024.

The ministry added that initial steps taken included restructuring governance to avoid conflicts of interest, reviewing Act 522, establishing the Malaysian Agrofood Regulatory and Enforcement Agency and empowering Mardi to identify rice varieties through DNA technology.

Published Date: March 2, 2025