Malaysia

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia, according to Section 40 on Control of Live Fish, Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317), has reviewed the notification of G/SPS/N/MYS/20* (6 July 2009).This amendment accounts for the reclassification and consolidation of species within their respective commodity groups. Furthermore, it incorporates requirements for disease analysis, biosecurity risks, and the specific purpose of exportation to Malaysia. The purpose of this notification is to inform all countries on the updated protocol for the importation of:Live Fish for Human Consumption;Live Fish Broodstock;Live Freshwater Fish Fry;Live Marine Fish Fry;Live Crustacea Broodstock;Live Crustacea Fry;Live Mollusc;Live Invertebrate;Live Aquatic Plant.The risk assessment and quarantine requirements for imported live aquatic animals are as follows:Live Fish for Human Consumption (i): The quarantine requirement is determined by the end-use of the consignment. Shipments designated for direct delivery to restaurants for immediate preparation are exempted from quarantine.Other Commodities (ii-ix): The importation risk and mandatory quarantine period are based on a comprehensive assessment that considers the susceptibility of the species, diseases listed as notifiable by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and other critical biosecurity risks.The main content of the protocol are as follows:Import Conditions Prior to Arrival in Malaysia;Animal Health Certification Requirements for the Import of Live Fish into Malaysia;Import Conditions on Arrival in Malaysian Territory.This import protocol mandates that all importers adhere to the stipulated conditions prior to consignment arrival, meet all health certification standards, and comply with all procedures upon arrival in Malaysia, as outlined in Annex I.* Notes: According to Fisheries Act 1985, “Fish” means any aquatic animal or plant life, sedentary or not, and includes all species of finfish, crustacea, mollusca, aquatic mammals, or their eggs or spawn, fry, fingerling, spat or young, but does not include any species of otters, turtles or their eggs.

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia, according to the Section 40 on Control of Live Fish, Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317) has reviewed the notification of G/SPS/N/MYS/26 (7 January 2011). This amendment accounts for the reclassification and consolidation of species within their respective commodity groups. Furthermore, it incorporates requirements for disease analysis, biosecurity risks, and the specific purpose of exportation to Malaysia. The purpose of this notification is to inform all countries on the updated protocol for the importation of:Live Freshwater Ornamental Fish;Live Marine Ornamental Fish; and Live Ornamental Crustacea.Freshwater and marine ornamental fish exhibit distinct profiles of disease susceptibility due to fundamental differences in their aquatic environments. These differences, particularly in water chemistry and ecology, directly influence pathogen viability, transmission, and host-pathogen interactions.The main content of the protocols are as follows:Import Conditions Prior to Arrival in Malaysia;Animal Health Certification Requirements for the Import of Live Ornamental Fish into Malaysia;Import Conditions on Arrival in Malaysian Territory.This import protocol mandates that all importers adhere to the stipulated conditions prior to consignment arrival, meet all health certification standards, and comply with all procedures upon arrival in Malaysia, as outlined in Annex I.According to Fisheries Act 1985, “Fish” means any aquatic animal or plant life, sedentary or not, and includes all species of finfish, crustacea, mollusca, aquatic mammals, or their eggs or spawn, fry, fingerling, spat or young, but does not include any species of otters, turtles or their eggs.

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DoF) intends to implement biosecurity inspection and verification visits at foreign hatcheries that wish to export live shrimp (including broodstock and post-larvae) to Malaysia.  This measure is introduced to strengthen assurance of compliance with Malaysia’s aquatic animal health and biosecurity requirements, and to prevent the introduction of serious transboundary aquatic animal diseases, in alignment with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Aquatic Animal Health Code.  The inspection will be conducted on a risk-based and transparent basis, in consultation with the competent authority of the exporting country, and consistent with the principles of equivalence and mutual recognition under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).

The proposed amendments to the Sixteenth Schedule (Regulation 41) of the Food Regulations 1985 [P.U. (A) 437/1985] regarding the Pesticide Residues involve the following details:1. Addition of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 19 new pesticides: Tetraniliprole, Permethrin, Carfentrazone-Ethyl, Clomazone, Cyproconazole, Esfenvalerate, Metolachlor, Oxolinic Acid, Picoxystrobin, Pretilachlor, Pydiflumetofen, Difenoconazole, Methidathion, Propineb, Pyridaben, Fenazaquin, Isocycloseram, Omethoate, Cyflufenamid;2. Addition of new MRLs for new commodities related to existing pesticides:Ametoctradin, Buprofezin, Chromafenozide, Lufenuron, Glufosinate-Ammonium, Prochloraz, Propiconazole, Cyromazine, Tebuconazole, Trifloxystrobin, Azoxystrobin, Spinetoram, Imidacloprid, Carbaryl, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Pyriproxyfen, Dinotefuran, Clothianidin, Deltamethrin, Carbaryl, Metalaxyl, Amitraz, Cyfluthrin/ beta-cyfluthrin, Acetamiprid, Emamectin benzoate, Pirimiphos-methyl, Difenoconazole, Fluopyram, Hexaconazole, Iprodione, Fenvalerate,  Thiamethoxam, Zeta-Cypermethrin, Bifenthrin, Clethodim;3. Deletion of three MRLs and its particulars:Trichlorfon, Monocrotophos and Methamidophos.

The proposed amendment of the Food Act 1983 [Act 281] consists of the following aspects: I. to strengthen control of food contact materials;II. expansion of the powers of the Minister and Director General;III. amendments to existing interpretations;IV. strengthening enforcement activities;V. increase the penalty rate.