CONSUMERISM

Definition Of Consumer• Consumer is one who buys goods or services and deserves• Section 3 (1) of CPA 1999 states “Consumer” means a person

who (a) Acquires or users goods or services of a kind ordinarily

acquired for personal, domestic or household purpose, use or consumption and

(b) Does not acquire or use the goods or services, or hold himself out as acquiring or using the goods or services, primarily for certain purpose.

Definition Of Consumerism Consumerism is a social movement whose aim is to protect or

cares the buyers of goods and services against fraudulent dealings or inferior services, defective, sub standard product,

unfair pricing, misleading advertisement, not labeled or mislabeling of product and so on.

It is a part of human right. Consumerism begins as a protest against sub standard goods

and fraudulent business practices. In more recent time, the scope of consumerism expanding

from the issues of daily living.

The things every consumer should know! Consumers should know their basic statutory rights for shopping - in other words the rights you have by law which a shop can't change. 

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, your rights granted cannot be taken away from you notwithstanding conditions in any agreement that you have signed.

rights to all the products and services of daily basic needs including food, clothing, health, education and house.

right to obtain accurate and precise facts about the product and service that you want to consume.

right to claim for damages from unfair practices from the supplier or manufacturer.

freedom in buying or assuring that the product or service you need is obtained through the right channels, based on the right price.

rights when buying services -you've powerful protection from the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.

rights when buying goods-The legal protection you have here is from the Sale of Goods Act 1979.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER ?

Consumer Movements Consumer movement got a boost with the

establishment of the National Advisory Council for the consumer protection in 1973,and more so with the

formation of the Domestic Trade and Consume Affairs Ministry.

That is Consumer Protection Advisory Council in each states.

Consumer ProtectionGovernment

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer

Affair The Ministry of Energy,

Water, Communication and Multimedia.

The Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

The Ministry of Health.

Non-Government Federation of Malaysian

Consumer Association (FOMCA)

Consumer Association of Penang (CAP)

Education and Research Association for

Consumer (ERA)

What is Consumer Awareness ??? The understanding by an individual of their rights as

a consumer concerning available products & services being marketed and sold .

The concept involves 4 categories including safety , choice , information & and the right to be heard.

Function key role in customer decision making.  customers are informed and protected

Benefits

Individual

- enhance critical thinking

- improve life skills

- increase self-confidence

Society

- promoting customer satisfaction

- increasing economic stability

- creating realistic customer expectations

Types There are several different types of consumer

awareness. Media awareness involves a customer's knowledge of

the advertising surrounding a given product or company.

Cost awareness involves comparing the prices of a similar product among different competitors.

The Muslim population is about 1.6 billion and spread

across the world. Halal products and services are also gaining increasing

acceptability among Muslims and non-Muslims The global market value for trade in halal products is

estimated at US$2.1 trillion annually. This market has

created interest among food producing countries both

Muslim and non-Muslim.

Consumer and Halal Products

• Halal (lawful) is a term designating any object or an action

which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic

law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible

according to Islamic law.

• Halal products include :

- Food

- Non-food products; including pharmaceuticals, health products,

medical devices, cosmetics, toiletries etc.

Halal Products

Pork (2:173) Blood (2:173) Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah. All that

has been dedicated or offered in sacrifice to an idolatrous altar or saint or a person considered to be "divine“ (2:173) (5:3)

Carrion (carcasses of dead animals) (2:173) An animal that has been strangled, beaten (to death), killed by a

fall, gored (to death), savaged by a beast of prey (except by a human) (5:3)

Food over which Allah's name is not pronounced (or at least not in a name other than Allah) (6:121)

Alcohol and other intoxicants (5:90)

Explicitly forbidden food

Manufacturers are also cashing in on the concept that virtually

all goods and products can be certified halal, including

cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, clothing, toiletries etc.

Halal cosmetics - including lipstick, deodorant and alcohol-

free perfume - can contain animal ingredients but they must be

prepared according to Islamic codes on slaughter and

preparation.

Halal pharmaceuticals - ensuring that the products are

produced in accordance with Syariah requirements gaining

common acceptance by all the Islamic mazhabs and the ease of

applicability for all producers of pharmaceuticals worldwide.

For the consumer, the benefits of halal certification is to know whether a product is halal

according to Islam means he or she does not have to bother checking all the ingredients.

The consumer can purchase the product with the assurance it does not contain anything

that is haram or doubtful. 

This includes the standard of halal slaughter, halal food, halal cosmetics and halal usable

goods.

Halal certification authorities :

Halal Food Council International (HFCI) - International halal certifier operating in USA.

HFCI got recognition from JAKIM (Malaysia), MUIS (Singapore), and MUI

(Indonesia)and strictly follow the guideline of halal as set by Malaysia, Singapore and

Indonesia. This guideline appears in the Codex Alimentarius (1997) that has been

approved by all Muslim countries in the world.

HALAL CERTIFICATION

IFANCA, North America

Shandong, Islamic Association, China

Instituto Halal, Spain

National Independent Halal Trust (NIHT), South Africa

Kenya Bureau of Halal Certification (KBHC), Kenya

Commission de Surveillance du Halal de la Réunion, France

All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) Halal Certification Authority, Sri Lanka

Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Malaysia

TERMS AND CONDITIONS :

The Islamic organization must be a recognized and registered body in the country of origin

The organization must operate in the legal office premise or mosque and not in the personal residence.

The organization shall have in its membership, members with syariah expertise

The organization shall engage technical expertise /food scientist.

The organization agrees to comply with Halal certification requirements or other requirements recommended or approved by JAKIM.

The organization agrees to allow officers from JAKIM to carry out an audit on its organization and halal procedures and system from time to time

JAKIM