Malaysia - Import & Export Regulatory Guide
Malaysia's customs administration is the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD), currently migrating to the uCustoms platform. Non-tariff regulation is coordinated through MITI and STIDC; SIRIM QAS International certifies most regulated products.
Regulatory authorities
- Customs entry, valuation, uCustoms/SMK filings.
- Trade policy, C/O issuance, trade remedies.
- Product certification, standards testing.
- JAKIMHalal certification and enforcement.
Licensing regimes
| Licence | Scope | Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| Import licence (AP) | Approved Permit regime - vehicles, iron & steel, rice. | MITI |
| SIRIM certification | Communications & multimedia (MCMC), electrical safety, LPG cylinders. | SIRIM QAS |
| Halal certification (MS 1500) | Food, cosmetics, pharma; required for retail claim. | JAKIM |
| Strategic Trade Act licence | Dual-use and military goods under STA 2010. | MITI |
- · Firearms and imitation weapons without permit.
- · Publications contravening national security.
- · Certain chemicals under Rotterdam Convention.
- · CITES-listed species and derivatives.
- · Iron & steel - AP requirements + safeguard duties.
- · Sugar & rice - Bulog-equivalent controls, TRQ.
- · Strategic dual-use items under STA 2010.
- · Used vehicles - narrow AP with high excise.
- · Malay/English-language labelling for consumer products.
- · Halal logo (JAKIM) on covered products.
- · MCMC label for telecom terminal equipment.
- · Food labelling per Food Act 1983 + Regulations 1985.
- · UNSC measures implemented via Strategic Trade Act & AMLA.
- · No autonomous secondary sanctions.
- · Bank Negara screens OFAC/EU/UN for financial-sector.
Dispute resolution
Customs objection to Director-General within 30 days; Customs Appeal Tribunal; onward High Court. AIAC (Asian International Arbitration Centre, Kuala Lumpur) is the leading institutional forum. NY Convention party since 1985.
Key official sources
Frequently asked questions (2)
STA 2010 controls export, transhipment, transit and brokering of strategic items (dual-use + military) using a list closely aligned with EU Reg 2021/821 and multilateral regimes. Malaysia's transhipment hub role means both list-based and catch-all provisions apply, with penalties up to unlimited fines and 5-year imprisonment.
JAKIM halal is one of the most-recognised halal marks globally, with mutual recognition arrangements with 84+ foreign halal bodies (Indonesia's BPJPH, MUIS Singapore, GCC Accreditation, etc.). Products manufactured in JAKIM-recognised foreign plants can bear the JAKIM logo on Malaysian retail packs.
Compliance-ready templates for cross-border trade
Sanctions screening, KYC and end-use documentation are the first thing customs and correspondent banks check. Start with these free templates.