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SPECIAL FOCUS

Documents Required by the Malaysian Department of consumption. The Control of Slaughter Rules 1975 orders that meat
Customs and meat products imported into Malaysia must be Halal certified
• Customs Entry Form and the products must come from a slaughterhouse that is inspected
• Proof of immigration such as Bill of Landing and certified by JAKIM (Islamic Development Foundation of Malaysia).
• Commercial Invoice or Pro-Forma Invoice Other than certifying plants for Halal export, JAKIM appoints Islamic
• Packing List Center to monitor and inspect the “Halal” status of certified plants
• Other documents such as certification of product’s origin and issues the Halal certification for all export.

Food Related Laws Healthy Foods and Medical Food Products
Malaysia’s Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 on food safety and Healthy foods and medical food products must be classified by the
food quality control, food standard, food hygiene and sanitation, food National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) under the
import and export, food advertising, and laboratory accreditation, are Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Control of Drugs and Cosmetic
enforced by the Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD), the Ministry of Regulations 1984. The NPCB will determine if the healthy products
Health. The FSQD will conduct several missions including random surveys and medical food products must be registered or not.
on location and facilities, licensing, and food contamination monitoring. Import permit is necessary and is issued by the compliance unit.
However, ingredients declaration and labeling are designated for some Nonetheless, registering with NPCB, designated exporters and
products and are very strict for products containing pork and alcohol. distributors must inform NPCB regarding the product’s name,
Special care is required when following Malaysia’s regulation on food ingredients, ingredients proportions, and instruction/reference, along
labeling. with attachments such as a copy of label/products information. For
Every item for sales must be randomly checked at one of 28 entry more information, contact the National Pharmaceutical Control
points across the country to ensure that imported food products is safe Bureau, Ministry of Health, Malaysia or www.bpfk.gov.my.
and in compliance with standards and regulations. The products will be
destroyed if they are found to be harmful for human consumption. Label Specification
Moreover, meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, pork and Food that has been produced, prepared, or packed in Malaysia, will
pork products, must also be checked from officers authorized by the use Malay language on its label. Imported food may applies Malay
Department of Livestock Development (the Department of Veterinary or English label. This includes the translation into other languages,
Services) at the point of embarkment. Product samples will be randomly regardless of the original language used on the label.
checked and gathered for laboratory test, and the Department preserves Foods that require expiry date/period of consumption indication
the rights to destroy, detain, or deny entry for the goods. include biscuits, bread, canned food for infants and children, chocolate
Medical food products and healthy foods must be registered, while cereal, white chocolate, milk chocolate, bean paste, coconut milk,
meat, dairy, and related product must obtain import license. Registering coconut powder, fat, low energy food, meat products, dairy and dairy
and import license obtaining can be conducted through companies listed products, beverage, fruit and vegetable juice, peanut butter, and
in Malaysia, and fee will be applied for import license. sauce, etc.
Plants and Plant Products Examples of Products Regulations in Malaysia
Importing plants and plant products into Malaysia is regulated by the • Regulations on Grading, Packaging, and Labelling
Agricultural Pests and Noxious Plants (Import/Export) Regulations 1981, Agricultural Products
which aims to control plant imports to prevent lurking of insects and Regulations on grading, packaging, and labelling for agricultural
diseases from abroad. Inspection and authorization for the transfer of products or GPL Regulations are issued by the Federal Agricultural
plant, plant parts or plant products, processed plants into Malaysia must Marketing Authority (FAMA). All exporters, importers, wholesalers,
comply with the phytosanitary requirements. and retailers of agricultural products in Malaysian market are required
The application for phytosanitary certificate (P.C) must be submitted to follow the regulations before launching their agricultural products
with completed PQ9 form (which can be obtained from Plant Quarantine in the Malaysia market. The GPL regulations are enforced on
Agency (PQA)), along with a copy of import permit issued by the Director- agricultural products including 73 vegetables (such as asparagus,
General of the Ministry of Agriculture, to the PQA at least 4 working days onion, broccoli, mushroom, chili, ginger, corn, cow pea, cabbage,
before the inspection. Notably, the conditions/requirements for plant cauliflower, pumpkin, carrot, shallot, tomato, potato, lemongrass,
imports are listed in the permit. However, most of the conditions require cucumber, etc.) 56 fruits (namely grape, apricot, avocado, papaya,
actions that must be conducted in the plant’s country of origin, and cherry, durian, apple, guava, kiwi, date palm, langsat, orange, lychee,
importers must inform their exporters about the conditions beforehand. jackfruit, mangosteen, pear, peach, plum, rambutan, strawberry,
watermelon, etc.) 6 flowers (chrysanthemum, orchid, rose, carnation,
Live Animals and Poultry etc.), 2 beans (peanut, fresh unsealed peanut), sugarcane, coconut,
The Department of Livestock Development (the Department of Veterinary and grains (coffee beans).
Services) is an organization that enforces Animal Rules 1962 regarding
the import of live animals or poultry into Malaysia. The Animal Ordinance Application Process for Halal Certification in
1953, Animal Rules 1962, Animal Importation Order 1962, and Federal Malaysia
Animals Quarantine Station (Management and Maintenance) By-Law Thai products that are exported for sale in the Malaysian market
1982, are restricting and set conditions on documents like import permit should obtain Halal label certified by the Central Islamic Council of
and hygiene certificate, to name a few, which are used for importing live Thailand, which is recognized by JAKIM (Department of Islamic
animals and poultry into Malaysia. Development Malaysia). Nevertheless, foreign enterprises can apply
for Halal certification directly from JAKIM, though only for food
Meat and Poultry Products (Pork is Excluded) products and cosmetics.
The Department of Livestock Development (the Department of Veterinary
Services) is an agency responsible for ensuring that products from animal
origins for human consumption is hygienic, safe, and benefit for human
32 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND MAY 2018