Basic information
Outline of the system
The Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia (DVS) is the competent authority for the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) for imported animal and animal products in term of veterinary health and veterinary public health.
Since 2013, import permit for all animal and animal products imported into Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan is issued by The Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) in accordance to the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 [Act 728].
Import permit for animal and animal products which is imported into Sabah and Sarawak is issued respectively by Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry, Sabah and Department of Agriculture, Sarawak.
For the importation of wildlife or products thereof, prior obtaining the import permit from MAQIS, the importers are required to obtain licence and CITES from the Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks and approval letter from DVS.
Product coverage
Import permit is mandatory for import of animal and animal-based products into Malaysia.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
The requirement for import permit is to ensure the imported animal and animal products fulfil the SPS requirements.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
See answers 6.1-6.11
The system applies to products originating from which country?
The requirement applies to all countries.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
Import permit is a statutory requirement under the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 [Act 728].
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
The act does not allow for administrative discretion regarding the designation of animal and products that are subjected to licensing.
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Government or the executive branch is not allowed to abolish the requirement for import permit without legislative approval.
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
All persons, firms, corporate bodies and institutions are eligible to apply for an import permit subjected the animal or animal products intended to be imported complies with import regulations.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Address
Telephone
Fax
E-mail address
Website
Contact officer
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS)
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
The information required will depend on the type of animals and products, the purpose of importation and the country of origin.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Applications for an import permit to import animals and animal products into Malaysia must be made through the online permit system (E-Permit).
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
Application for an import permit should be made before the animal or animal products depart from the exporting country or country of origin. This is to provide time for checks and verification the information declared in the importation documents as well as for the processing and issuance of the licence.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
No, applications for import permit and importation can be made at any period of the year.
Issuing the license
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Yes, for valid and specific reasons, subjected the consignment complies with the import regulations. However, there will be penalties or compound charged to the importer.
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
For the application and issuance of import permits for animal and animal products, approval should be obtained from Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) which is the competent veterinary authority in Malaysia. DVS will conduct risk assessment in term of SPS and also veterinary inspection if necessary, before granting approval to import. MAQIS will approve the import permit based on the approval list provided by DVS.
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
In the case of wildlife or products thereof, written permission should also be obtained from the Wildlife Department particularly for wildlife or products thereof which are subjected to CITES regulations in relation to conservation of endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
No.
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
Yes.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
|
No. |
Category |
Fee (RM) |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Dog and Cat |
40 per animal |
|
2 |
Restricted Breed Dog |
100 per animal |
|
3 |
Deer |
5 per animal |
|
4 |
Horse |
20 per animal |
|
5 |
Cattle/ Buffalo |
5 per animal |
|
6 |
Goat/Sheep |
3 per animal |
|
7 |
Day Old Chick/Duck/Ostrich/Geese/Quail for breeding |
5 per permit |
|
8 |
Trading day chick |
0.20 per animal |
|
9 |
Pet Bird |
2 per animal |
|
10 |
Ostrich |
5 per animal |
|
11 |
Any other types of birds |
2 per animal |
|
12 |
Pig |
10 per animal |
|
13 |
Animal for zoo/exhibition/competition |
10 per animal |
|
14 |
Research animal |
10 per permit |
|
15 |
Other animal (other than listed above) |
3 per animal |
|
16 |
Egg |
10 per permit |
|
17 |
Meat carcass and meat products |
10 per 100kg |
|
18 |
Birds carcass and birds products |
20 per 100kg |
|
19 |
Bones, hides, skins, milk produce, milk, vaccine or other animal products which is not stated below in (20) |
50 per permit |
|
20 |
Animal excrement used as fertilizer, animal bone products for animal feed, meat products for animal feed, blood products for animal feed, animal fat, eggshell or other non-human consumption product |
20 per permit |
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
No.
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
None.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
Yes the applicant has a right to appeal.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
The applicant may appeal to DVS to get the approval.
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
No, applications for import permit and importation can be made at any period of the year.
What documents are required upon actual importation?
Types of documents required upon actual importation are:
(i) For the importation of live animals:
- Import permit from MAQIS; and
- Veterinary Health Certificate/Quarantine Certificate from exporting countries;
- CITES certificate in case of wildlife animals:
(Refer also to the Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks.)
(ii) For importation of animal products (except pork and pork products):
- Import permit from MAQIS;
- Veterinary Health Certificate (issued by a competent Veterinary Authority); and
- Halal Certificate (issued by JAKIM or Halal Organisation Body recognized by JAKIM).
(iii) For importation of animal products (pork and pork products):
- Import permit from MAQIS;
- Veterinary Health Certificate (issued by a competent Veterinary Authority).
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
Prior to the applications for import permit to import animals or animal products into Malaysia from MAQIS through the online permit system (E-Permit), approval to import should be obtained from Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) which is the competent veterinary authority in Malaysia. DVS will conduct risk assessment in term of SPS before granting approval to import. MAQIS will approve the import permit based on the approval list by DVS.
Import of meat and products of animal origin are subject to the import protocol under the Animal Act 1953 (Revised 2006) and stipulates the import conditions including inspection and approving of export establishments for compliance to SPS, Veterinary and Halal requirements.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
The validity period of an import licence varies between thirty (30) days to ninety (90) days depending on the mode of transportation and regions. The validity period cannot be extended.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
No.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Not applicable.
Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?
Not applicable.
Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?
Not applicable.
What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?
Not applicable.
The following questions are only for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally)
Where is information on allocation and formalities for licences published? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
The information concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filling application for TRQ is published on the website of Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia http://www.dvs.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/381. The MFN quota is opened to countries on a first come, first-served basis.
Is the size of the quota determined: on yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for a fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
The size of quotas is determined on a yearly basis
Are licences allocated for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate)
The quota is open to producers and traders.
From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Application for quota must be submitted before 15 September of the year (milk and chicken meat) and for other products before 15 October of the year.
What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
An application for TRQ will be processed within 1 to 3 months.
How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Importers can declare an import within 15 days to 1 month.
Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
The application for TRQ is carried out by a single administration.
If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, the allocation to applicants will be on first come, first serve basis. Premises will be verified, proper amenities for storage and handling, cold chain facilities, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in place including verifications of record and documents.
In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Yes.
In cases where imports are allocated on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Not applicable.
Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
No.