29/05/2026
Translated by AI:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) will implement two important import control measures effective from 1 June 2026. First, imported chilies, cucumbers, tomatoes, choy sum, and cabbage, as well as barramundi fish imported from Thailand, will be required to provide a mandatory Certificate of Analysis (CoA) before they can be imported into Malaysia. Secondly, the government will temporarily prohibit the import of five species of shrimp from Thailand into Malaysia.
These measures are aimed at further strengthening Malaysia’s food safety monitoring system for imported food products, to ensure that imported vegetables and seafood entering the local market comply with Malaysia’s statutory food safety and quality standards, particularly in terms of pesticide residue levels, hygiene inspections, and food risk management requirements.
In fact, this is not the first time Malaysia has implemented a CoA system. Previously, the Ministry of Health (KKM) and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) had already imposed specific CoA requirements on certain imported food products and agricultural goods. However, past measures were mostly based on specific risks or targeted product categories, while many agricultural products continued to rely primarily on the “Hold, Test and Release” (HTR) mechanism for sampling and monitoring.
As public awareness regarding food safety continues to grow, and as the agriculture and fisheries sectors face increasingly complex import competition, the Ministry recognises the need to further strengthen import verification mechanisms, while improving the transparency and enforcement of border controls.
During the first quarter of this year, I met separately with representatives from the Malaysia Vegetable Farmers Association, the Malaysia Aquaculture Development Association, and the Malaysia Fisheries Association to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges currently faced by local vegetable farmers, aquaculture operators, and fisheries industry players. One of the key concerns consistently raised by all parties was the need for the government to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of imported agricultural and fishery products, to ensure imported products comply with Malaysia’s food safety standards and to create a fairer market environment.
Therefore, the implementation of the CoA requirement is one of the government’s important measures in directly responding to industry concerns.
It must be emphasised that the government is not implementing this policy to completely block imports. Malaysia still relies on imports in certain agricultural sectors to ensure stable market supply. However, for agricultural products where local production capacity is already relatively mature and sufficient — such as cucumbers and tomatoes, where the self-sufficiency rate exceeds 100% — the government has a responsibility to ensure that local farmers are not subjected to prolonged unfair competition from imported products that fail to meet specifications, are inconsistent in quality, or do not comply with local standards.
Local farmers, fishermen, and aquaculture operators have long been required to comply with Malaysia’s agricultural practices, food safety regulations, and aquaculture standards. Therefore, imported products should also be required to comply with the same standards. This is not only a matter of fairness, but also a necessary step to safeguard the sustainability of the nation’s agricultural ecosystem and industries.
More importantly, the core objective of this policy is to protect consumer rights and public food safety. Malaysia must not become a dumping ground for products that fail to meet international food safety standards. The implementation of the CoA system will further strengthen border control capabilities, improve transparency in the import process, and reinforce public confidence in the country’s food safety system.
It is regrettable that some businesses have recently attempted to use these regulatory measures as an excuse to increase prices. I hope that all industry players and stakeholders will prioritise consumer food safety and view the government’s regulatory measures rationally. Once imported products that fail to meet food safety standards enter the market, the consequences will not only affect consumer health, but will also further disrupt the local agriculture and fisheries market.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will continue to engage with relevant agencies, importers, and industry stakeholders to ensure food safety and strengthen enforcement, while at the same time maintaining national food supply stability and avoiding unnecessary burdens on legitimate and compliant businesses.
Datuk Chan Foong Hin
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Image generated by AI
农粮部将从2026年6月1日起，落实两项重要进口管控措施，即进口辣椒、黄瓜、番茄、菜心及圆包菜，以及来自泰国进口的石甲鱼，必须强制提供“分析证明书”（Certificate of Analysis，简称CoA）后，方可进口至马来西亚；同时，政府也将暂时禁止泰国向我国出口五种虾类。
这项措施旨在进一步加强我国对进口食品的安全监管，以确保进入本地市场的进口蔬菜及水产品，符合马来西亚法定食品安全与品质标准，尤其是在农药残留、卫生检验及食品风险管控方面达到规定要求。
事实上，这并非马来西亚首次落实CoA制度。过去，卫生部（KKM）及大马检疫及检验服务局（MAQIS）已针对部分进口食品及农产品实施特定的CoA要求。不过，以往的措施多数属于特定风险或特定产品类别的监管模式，而许多农产品仍主要依赖“扣留、检测与放行”（Hold, Test and Release，HTR）机制进行抽样监督。
随着人民对食品安全意识日益提高，以及农业与渔业领域面对更复杂的进口竞争环境，部门也意识到，有必要进一步强化进口审核机制，提升边境监管透明度与执行力度。
我在今年首个季度曾分别会晤马来西亚菜农总会、马来西亚水产商总会以及马来西亚渔业总会代表，深入了解本地菜农、水产及渔业业者当前面对的挑战与困境。其中，多方一致反映的重点之一，就是希望政府能够加强对进口农渔产品的监管与执法，确保进口产品符合我国食品安全标准，并建立更公平的市场竞争环境。
因此，落实CoA要求，正是政府积极回应业界诉求的重要措施之一。
必须强调的是，政府落实这项政策，并非为了全面阻止进口。我国在部分农产品领域，仍需依赖进口以确保市场供应稳定。然而，对于本地生产能力已相对成熟及充足的农产品，例如自供自给率超过100%的黄瓜与番茄等，政府有责任确保本地农民不会因为不符合规格、品质参差或不符合本地标准的进口产品，而长期承受不公平竞争压力。
本地农民、渔民及水产养殖业者长期以来都必须遵守我国农业规范、食品安全及养殖标准，因此，进口产品也应被要求遵守相同标准。这不仅是公平原则，更是保障国家农业生态与产业永续发展的必要措施。
更重要的是，这项政策的核心始终是保障消费者权益与公共食品安全。马来西亚不能成为不符合国际食品安全标准产品的倾销市场。CoA制度的落实，将进一步加强边境把关能力，提高进口流程透明度，并强化人民对国内食品安全体系的信心。
令人遗憾的是，近期有部分商家试图将此项监管措施作为涨价借口。我希望所有业者及利益相关者能够以消费者食品安全为最高原则，理性看待政府的监管措施。因为不符合食品安全规格的进口产品，一旦流入市场，最终受影响的不只是消费者健康，也将进一步冲击本地农业与渔业市场秩序。
农粮部将持续与相关单位、进口商及业界保持沟通，在确保食品安全与加强监管的同时，也兼顾国家粮食供应稳定，避免对合法合规业者造成不必要负担。
拿督陈泓缣
农业及粮食安全部副部长
*图像由AI生成
