Notifications for Malaysia (38 notifications)

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.

Following the report on the detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreak in Torp, Denmark on 8 October 2025 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia has temporarily suspended import of live poultry and poultry products from Denmark effective 13 November 2025.

On 31 October 2025, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) of Malaysia have lifted the temporary suspension on the importation of live poultry and poultry products from Brazil, following the country's self-declaration of freedom from high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 26 June 2025.Importation of live poultry, including day-old chicks and ducklings, as well as poultry meat Brazil, may resume upon mutual agreement and finalisation of the Veterinary Health Certificate between DVS and the competent veterinary authority of Brazil.

Regulations specifiying methods of sampling feed or feed additives for quality control for commercial, technical and legal purposes.

Following the report of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on the detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 15 May 2025, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia has temporarily suspended import of live poultry and poultry products from Brazil effective 19 May 2025.

Following the report on the detection of foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Dunajská Streda, Slovak Republic on 21 March 2025 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia has temporarily suspended import of live ruminants and ruminant products (with the exception of safe commodities under Article 8.8.2 and milk and dairy products that have been heat-treated to guarantee the destruction of the foot and mouth disease virus) from Dunajská Streda, Slovak Republic, effective 25 March 2025.

The proposed amendment to the Fifth Schedule of the Food Irradiation Regulations 2011 [P.U. (A) 143/2011] is to include four new packaging materials and their maximum permitted dose (kGy) for Permitted Packaging Materials for Food to be Irradiated. The Codex Alimentarius provides general guidelines for food irradiation but does not specify the permitted packaging materials. Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration has established detailed regulations and an approved list of packaging materials for use during irradiation of pre-packaged foods. Therefore, this proposed amendment is aligned with the FDA 21 CFR Part 179, Section 179.45.

To list out the banned antibiotics to use as AGP and prophylaxis in Malaysia under Feed Act 2009. The antibiotics are ChlortetracyclineOxytetracyclineAmoxicillin, Ampicillin, NeomycinCefalexinBenzylpenicillinFlorfenicolNorfloxacinTilmicosinTylvalosinSpectinomycinSulfamonomethoxineSulfadiazineLincomycinEnramycinBacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD)ApramycinTiamulinZn BacitracinTrimethoprim and Virginiamycin.

Deletion of the existing pesticides carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, and paraquat, along with their associated particulars (foods and maximum residue limits), from the Sixteenth Schedule of the Food Regulations 1985 [P.U.(A) 437/1985

Insertion of new text in the Food Regulation 1985 that foods to be imported into Malaysia must be manufactured in premises that implement a food safety assurance programme recognized by the Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health. This food safety assurance programme may include, but is not limited to, Food Safety Systems Management (FSSM), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).This requirement is in line with the Malaysia Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, which stipulate that domestic manufacturers must provide and make available food safety assurance programmes within food premises.The Food Safety and Quality Programme reserves the right to inspect or audit the premises to ensure compliance with this requirement, either through prior consultation with the competent authorities of the exporting country or foreign food premises.Importers must provide or maintain documentation verifying that the premises adhere to an acceptable food safety assurance programme. Any non-compliance may result in enforcement actions or rejection of food imports.

The Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia is proposing the Veterinary Public Health Bill 202x. This act is to consolidate the laws on Veterinary Public Health within Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory of Labuan for the control and prevention of zoonotic foodborne disease and contaminant on animal - based foods to achieve food safety; to regulate activities related to pollution and nuisances in slaughterhouses, livestock farms and animal product processing plants and matters incidental thereto or connected therewith. The objectives and scope of the implementation of the Veterinary Public Health Bill are generally to:Expend the scope and functions of veterinary inspections as the tasks are increasingly focused on ensuring that animal-based and products produced are consistently clean and safe for consumption;Implement comprehensive and more effective veterinary inspections, conducted by 90% of veterinary inspectors within five years at livestock farms, slaughterhouses, abattoirs, and livestock product processing facilities;Ensure meat inspection is conducted at all licensed government and private slaughterhouses, poultry slaughterhouses, and small and medium scale poultry slaughter premises by the year 2030;Reduce incidents of foodborne illnesses originating from animal products, particularly foodborne zoonotic diseases, by 20% annually;Increase the percentage of animal product exports to international markets by 5% within five years, enhancing global trade opportunities and competitiveness through international recognition;Ensure compliance with food safety standards for animal-based products by achieving at least 80% compliance in premises with relevant regulations, standards, and guidelines by the year 2030.

The proposed amendments to the Sixteenth Schedule of Food Regulations 1985 [P.U.(A) 437/1985] involve the following details:1. The addition of maximum residue limits (MRLs) of new pesticides (famoxadone, Isocycloseram, Isoprothiolane, Propanil, Quinclorac, Spiropidion, Tiafenacil, Afidopyropen, Boscalid, Cyflumetofen, Fenoxanil, Flumioxazin, Mefentrifluconazole, Permethrin, Trifludimoxazin).2. The addition of MRLs for new commodities to existing pesticides (Abamectin, Ametoctradin, Ametryn, Dimethomorph, Thiamethoxam, Cypermethrin, Pyraclostrobin, Tebuconazole).

The proposed amendment to the Application Form for Importation of Feed into Malaysia (Pet Food/ Animal Feed/ Feed Additive Containing Animal-Based Raw Materials) is to include new requirement for verification of the form by the Competent Veterinary Authority of the exporting country. It is important to ensure the information provided in the application form has been verified to be true by the Competent Veterinary Authority which supervises the operation of the said feed manufacturing establishment.

The proposed amendments to Table I and Table II of the Fifteenth A Schedule of the Food Regulations 1985 are as follows: 1. Deletion of colistin and the particulars relating to it from Table I of the Fifteenth A Schedule; 2. Insertion of colistin in Table II of the Fifteenth A Schedule as a drug prohibited in food.

The proposed amendment to the Food Regulations 1985 [P.U.(A) 437/1985] involves the insertion of a new regulation, regulation 38B, which sets the maximum content of trans fatty acids allowed to be contained in food for sale in Malaysia, which is not more than 2g/100g of fat other than trans fatty acid of animal origin.The proposed maximum content of trans fatty acids is established based on WHO recommendation and other countries' regulations i.e. European Union and India.

To amend the Sixteenth Schedule of the Food Regulations 1985 [P.U.(A) 437/1985] as follows:The addition of maximum residue limits (MRLs) of new pesticides (famoxadone, MCPA, sulfentrazone);The addition of new MRLs of new commodities to existing pesticides (diafenthiuron, fluopyram, imazapyr, thiamethoxam).