Malaysia Meat Product Regulation

1. Definition and Classification

According to the Food Regulations 1985, meat or fresh meat shall be the edible part of the skeletal muscle of an animal, other than fish, that is normally used for human consumption and that was healthy at the time of slaughter. The requirement for fresh meat, chilled meat, frozen meat and minced meat can be found in Regulation 141-144 of the Food Regulations 1985.

In terms of meat products, they shall be the product prepared from meat and includes any food for which a standard is prescribed in regulations 146 to 153.

2. Competent Authority and Responsibilities

3. Regulatory Framework

The Food Act 1983 and its subsidiary legislation, the Food Regulations 1985, serve as the primary laws governing food safety and quality. Enterprises may also need to comply with other regulations issued by various departments:

• Act 730 - Trade Description Act 2011

• P.U. (A) 296 - Trade Descriptions (Marking of Quantity for Pre-packaged Goods) Order 2023

• P.U. (A) 431 - Trade Description Order (Certification & Marking of Halal) 2011

• General Procedure Import Meat, Poultry, Milk and Egg Products to Malaysia

• Regulations for the Importation of Meat Products into Malaysia (for different meat types and countries)

…

4. Market Access Approval

4.1 Country-level approval & Facility registration

For new exporting countries wishing to trade meat products in Malaysia, the competent authority of the exporting country must complete a questionnaire. The DVS will then conduct a risk analysis of the exporting country’s disease status.

If the risk analysis is satisfactory and the risk is deemed low, the establishment or abattoir intending to export animal products to Malaysia must complete the following forms for an adequacy audit (document audit) by the DVS and JAKIM regarding halal compliance. Application forms can be downloaded from the DVS website: www.dvs.gov.my.

• Application for Export of Meat, Poultry, Milk and Egg Products to Malaysia - (DVS)

• HALAL Application form for the processing establishment - (JAKIM)

• Halal application form for livestock/poultry products establishment to be exported to Malaysia – abattoir -(JAKIM)

4.2 Permit & Certificate

Importers in Malaysia who intend to import meat products from the approved facility need to apply for import permit through the online e-permit system. The import permit needs to be obtained by the importers in Malaysia prior to the import and shall be obtained for every consignment. As per Regulations for the Importation of Meat Products into Malaysia, meat products shall be accompanied by a valid import permit obtained before consignment departing from the exporting country issued by the MAQIS permitting the importation into Malaysia.

In addition to the import permit, the consignment of product shall be accompanied by an official Veterinary Health Certificate in English issued by competent Veterinary Authority of the exporting country. Moreover, the consignment of meat shall be accompanied by a Halal Certificate issued by Halal Certification Body recognized by JAKIM.

Specific requirements for meat products from different countries can be checked here.       

4.3 FoSIM registration

Before exportation, importing and shipping agents (customs brokers) of overseas enterprises are required to register with the Malaysian Food Safety Information System (FoSIM). The system is linked to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department's system known as the Customs Information System (CIS), allowing importers, shipping agents, and Authorized Officers to manage food importation activities electronically using a risk-based approach.

4.4  Product compliance

Before exporting meat products to Malaysia, overseas enterprises must ensure that the food products comply with both the general provisions and product regulations specified in the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. For example, regulations regarding incidental constituents, like drug residue, can be found in Part VII of the Food Regulations 1985. Specific product requirements can be found in corresponding regulations cited in Part 1 of this Pedia “Definition and Classification”. In addition, meat products shall also satisfy the regulations raised by other authorities like JAKIM and DVS.

Part of the compliance requirements for some meat products as regulated in the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 are summarized as below. 

5. Label

Meat products must first adhere to the general labeling requirements and product labeling requirements as specified in the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. Then such products shall also meet the labeling requirements put forward by other authorities such as:

• Act 730 - Trade Description Act 2011

• P.U. (A) 296 - Trade Descriptions (Marking of Quantity for Pre-packaged Goods) Order 2023

• P.U. (A) 431 - Trade Description Order (Certification & Marking of Halal) 2011

• General Procedure Import Meat, Poultry, Milk and Egg Products to Malaysia

• Regulations for the Importation of Meat Products into Malaysia

…

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China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand etc.

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