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Fisheries Biosecurities FAQ

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Application for registration of ornamental fish farm/exporter/importer/carrier of live fish

Applications must use the Aquaculture Farm Registration Form (ARF Version 1/2017) which can be obtained from the relevant State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN).

Application for registration of a fishing vessel under the Fisheries Biosecurity Programme

Applications must use the Fishing Vessel Registration Form (FVA-01) which can be obtained from the relevant State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN).

Getting permission to bring in live fish for the purpose of competition/exhibition/show/research

Application to bring live fish into Malaysia for the purpose of competition/exhibition/show/research is to use the Application Form for the Special Approval of Quarantine of Live Fish Brought Into Malaysia for the Purpose of Competition/Exhibition/Show/Research (BPPP-01) which can be found in the relevant State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN).

Submit a complaint if there is a large-scale fish death either in Malaysian waters or in farming areas

Complaints can be made at any District Fisheries Office close to the scene by fillling in FDN-01 Form.

Procedure to carry out live fish import/export activities

For trade and commercial activities, you must comply with the following conditions:

  1. Import/export quarantine premises must be constructed according to Biosecurity requirements for import/export activities.
  2. Premises must be registered with the relevant State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN) where the premises are located.
  3. Apply for a Wholesale License from the Fisheries Development Authority Malaysia (LKIM).
  4. Apply for registration as an importer/exporter with the Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS).

The conditions to apply for an import permit for ornamental fish and prawn

You must comply with the following conditions:

  1. Have premises that have been operating in accordance to biosecurity requirements.
  2. Registered as an importer with the Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS).
  3. Apply for a Wholesale License with the Fisheries Development Authority Malaysia (LKIM) where the premises operate.
  4. Registered with Dagangnet Technology Sdn. Bhd. to gain access to the e-permit system.

Complaint channels for the suspected sale of fish using chemicals to maintain its freshness in the public market/supermarket

Food safety issues for fish and fish products are under the jurisdiction of several authorities. Complaints can be channeled as follows:

  • Fish/seafood food safety issues in public markets/supermarkets: complaint to the Local Authority (PBT) and also the Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
  • Food safety issues at landing jetties owned by the Fisheries Development Authority Malaysia (LKIM): complaint to LKIM.
  • Food safety issues for fish/seafood on board fishing vessels: complaint to the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF).

Actions to be taken when facing losses due to fish farm deaths for unknown causes

If there are cases of fish deaths, you can contact any State Biosecurity Unit, State Fisheries Office or Fisheries Biosecurity Division, Putrajaya Fisheries Headquarters for the purpose of investigating the deaths. Any further action is subject to the results of the investigation into the cause of fish death and also based on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that have been set.

Sending a sample for analysis to the Fisheries Biosecurity Laboratory by an operator who is not included in the Official Control Programme

Not allowed, unless you are registered with the designated Official Control Programme. The Fisheries Biosecurity Unit of each state will conduct sampling for Official Control Programmes such as ARMP, HOB, Marine SPS, Aqua SPS, fish feed/fish powder monitoring and fish disease surveillance. The samples will be sent to the laboratory according to the designated zone.

Location of the Fisheries Biosecurity Laboratories

There are 6 Fisheries Biosecurity Laboratories that offer analytical services for fish health monitoring and public health in Malaysia. Please refer to List of Fisheries Biosecurity Laboratories for further details.

Charges for the conducted analysis

None.

The duration of a conducted analysis

14 days.

Eligibility criteria for applications to participate in the myGAP Certification Scheme

The following farm owners are eligible to be considered to apply for myGAP Certification:

  • Farm sites are legally owned and operated (private/rental/temporary ownership/lease.
  • Has run farm for at least 1 year or one round and has a record of yield production.
  • Have updated farm documents and records.
  • Willing to receive views, comments and suggestions for improvement on Good Aquaculture Practices aspects of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.
  • Have a Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) document as proof of commitment to produce quality products, safe to eat, environmental sustainability, animal welfare and prioritise employee health and safety.

The application procedure to participate in the myGAP Certification Program

Applicants who are interested and meet the criteria must submit an application to the State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN) according to the location of the farm or premises. Further inquiries regarding the registration, auditing, approval and awarding process of myGAP certificates can also be submitted to the relevant UBPN. Briefly, the steps to obtain myGAP certification are as follows:

  • Registration
  • Audit Application
  • Selection of Team of Auditors by the Department
  • Compliance Audit Assessment
  • Fisheries Biosecurity Evaluation and Certification Committee (JKPP)
  • Approval
  • MyGAP Certificate Award
  • Status Retention
  • Recertification

Procedure and required supporting documents for the applications of Live Fish Health Certificate, Fishmeal and Fish Food

The application must be submitted three (3) working days before the actual export date to the State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit (UBPN) according to the location of the exporter’s premises.

For applications for Fishmeal and Fish Food Health Certificate, the application must be submitted to the Fisheries Biosecurity Division of the Headquarters, Putrajaya. The documents that need to be submitted are as follows:

  1. Certificate Application Form – Form BPKT-01 (Download from the Department of Fisheries Malaysia Website)
  2. Invoice/Packing List.
  3. Traceability Form – BPDJ-01 Form.
  4. Copy of Fish Quality Certificate (FQC) – specifically for export to the EU.
  5. Health certificate from the exporting country for re-export purposes.
  6. Laboratory analysis report.
  7. Other documents as required.

The conditions that need to be complied to export fish products (frozen raw shrimp) to Australia and South Korea

You will need to follow these procedures:

A. Terms of Application

  1. The raw materials obtained are from sources originated from Malaysia and recognized exporting countries which are processed at certified premises in Malaysia.
  2. Sources must be from:
    • Farms registered with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia/Supervised by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia; or
    • Involved in the Aquaculture Residue Monitoring Programme (ARMP)/disease surveillance; or
      Sources of raw materials should be from disease-free farms, Irido virus, Taura Syndrome Disease (TSD), White Spot Disease (WSD), Yellowhead Disease (YHD), Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis (IHHNV), Infectious myonecrosis, Spherical baculovirus, White tail Disease (MrNV) and certified by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia as free from OIE disease; or
    • Have myGAP Certificate or Fish Quality Certificate (FQC); or
    • Vessels that have a valid license with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia and are involved under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sampling Programme – SPS Marine/Vessels that practice Hygiene Onboard (HOB).
    • For import sources, health certificates and disease analysis reports issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country must be attached.
    • The health certificate will be revoked if the laboratory report is found to be positive for the departed consignment. The DOF will inform the importing country of the withdrawal of the health certificate.
    • Have a track record from the source of production (BPDJ-01 Form).

B. Export Application Procedure

  1. Application for Health Certificate for Fish Products must be submitted to the State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit according to the location of the factory or at the nearest exit using BP-KT01 Form.
  2. Applicants must understand all export requirements determined by the importing country.
  3. The application must be submitted 10 working days before the product is exported. This period can be reduced to five (5) working days if sampling and analysis has been done to two (2) weeks before harvest or the farm has a Fish Quality Certificate and under the ARMP programme.
  4. Applicants must submit:
    • List of farms/vessels that supply raw materials to the factory (BPDJ-01 Traceability Form)
    • Receipt of purchase from the farm/vessel.
  5. State Fisheries Biosecurity Unit Officer – UBPN/Head of Fisheries District – KDP/District Fisheries Superintendent – PPD/District Aquaculture Fisheries Assistant – FAAq will collect and determine samples of each batch for analysis of disease presence at the exporter’s premises. The collected samples must be sent to the laboratory for analysis purposes and all costs will be borne by the exporter.
  6. The samples collected must be sent to a laboratory recognised by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.
  7. The results of the analysis must be sent immediately to UBPN where the application for this certificate is made after the report is obtained from the laboratory.
  8. UBPN/PPD/KDP/FAAq officers will also make periodic/suprise inspections of the premises to ensure that the shrimp is free from clinical signs of disease (visible sign).
  9. Certificates will be issued based on document examination and laboratory analysis results.
  10. A Health Certificate will not be issued if the consignment has departed and does not have a laboratory analysis report.

Eligibility criteria for Non-Priority Certificate of Origin (NPCO) application

The conditions for exporting fish and fish products under Chapter 3 of the HS Code is that the applicant (manufacturer and exporter) must be registered with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia by filling in the registration form according to the activity and accompanied by the following documents:

  1. Business registration certificate with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
  2. Certificate of registration from the State Health Department (JKN)/MOH – for fish and fish products that go through a value-added process and special packaging in the factory.
  3. Wholesale License from LKIM.
  4. Certificate of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Point (HACCP)/Good Manufacturing Practices – (GMP)/MeSTI).

Meanwhile, the conditions for the Application for Certificate of Origin Confirmation according to the type of commodity are:

  1. Packed fresh/chilled/frozen in Malaysia; 100% local products (aquaculture/capture fisheries); and exported by sea (distant destinations) and air;
  2. Packed fresh/cold/frozen in Malaysia; 100% local produce (aquaculture/capture fisheries); and exported by sea (border state) and land;
  3. Packed and exported through/within customs control areas (Free Trade Zone/Bonded warehouse);
  4. Packed fresh/chilled/frozen in Malaysia and through a transformation process that changes the tariff code classification at the first six (6) digit level.
  5. Imported and segregated and packaged; and re-exported.

Procedure to apply for a Non-Priority Certificate of Origin (NPCO)

Applications must be submitted three (3) working days before the actual export date to UBPN according to the location of the exit using the BPKT-01 Application Form. The documents that need to be submitted are according to the category of the type of commodity to be exported as below:

  1. Local Products (air/sea routes):
    • Purchases Invoice
    • Sales Invoice
    • Customs Form 2
    • Traceability Form
    • eLKIM/LOV Declaration
    • Bill of Lading
    • Airway Bill
    • HACCP/GMP/MeSTI
    • Product Status: Malaysia
  2. Local Products (land/sea border routes):
    • Purchases Invoice
    • Sales Invoice
    • Customs Form 2
    • Traceability Form
    • eLKIM/LOV Declaration
    • HACCP/GMP/MeSTI
    • Product Status: Malaysia
  3. Customs Control Area:
    • Duty Free Zone:
      • Purchases Invoice
      • Sales Invoice
      • ZB Import
      • ZB Export
      • Bill of Lading
      • Airway Bill
      • Product Status: Country of Origin
    • Bonded Warehouse:
      • Purchases Invoice
      • Sales Invoice
      • Customs Form 8
      • Bill of Lading
      • Airway Bill
      • Product Status: Country of Origin
    • Change HS Code (Process):
      • Sales Invoice
      • Customs Form 1
      • Customs Form 2
      • Bill of Lading
      • Airway Bill
      • HACCP/GMP/MeSTI
      • Product Status: Malaysia
    • Transhipment:
      • Purchases Invoice
      • Sales Invoice
      • Customs Form 1
      • Customs Form 2
      • Bill of Lading
      • Airway Bill
      • Product Status: Malaysia

Notes:

  • For the shrimp exported consainment to the United States, the applicant must submit the Shrimp Declaration Form, DS 2031.
  • Bill of Lading or Airway Bill can be sent later after the applicant receives the document from the port or airport authority.

CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an agreement governing international trade in endangered species of plants and animals. The government of Malaysia has signed this convention agreement and it is voluntary; more than 170 countries have signed and ratified CITES to date.

This Agreement contains three Appendices in which CITES endangered species are placed as follows:

  1. Appendix I: All members of the CITES Convention agree to ban all international commercial trade for the species.
  2. Appendix II: All members of the CITES Convention agree to allow trade in the species only if certain conditions are met. (For example, before a Party is allowed to export a member of an Appendix II species, it must prove that the export will not harm the wild population of that species.)
  3. Appendix III: The species is protected by at least one country, which has requested all other members of the CITES Convention to help regulate trade.

In addition to the species listed in the CITES Appendix, the Parties also agree to take other actions to protect the species in international commercial trade. For example, All members of the CITES Convention agree to adhere to the humane standards for air transportation of live animals listed in the CITES Appendix.

CITES Administers

The CITES Secretariat, based in Geneva, is responsible for administering this agreement. The secretariat itself is administered by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Malaysia as one of the member countries of the CITES Convention has the role of regulating trade in the species listed in the CITES appendix by issuing CITES export and import permits.

Enforcement of CITES

The CITES Secretariat did not enforce the agreement. Instead, all members of the CITES Convention has adopted CITES which implements national laws that enable the implementation and enforcement of the treaty. In Malaysia, CITES is implemented and enforced through the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686).

Listing species in the CITES appendix

At each Conference of Parties (CoP), members of the CITES Convention submit proposals to list species in the Appendix, transfer species from the Appendix, or transfer species from one Appendix to another. Species proposals are discussed and approved or rejected by consensus or voting. Each member of the CITES Convention gets one vote. It took two-thirds of the CITES Convention, attending members vote to approve the species proposal.

Review on permit requirement to import or export Fish and Marine Life specimens

Importing, exporting and re-exporting Fish and Marine Life listed in the CITES Appendix (or any part or derivative of an animal or plant) requires a permit or certificate. Revisions can be made as follows:

  1. Review the CITES listed species database on the CITES website using either the scientific name or the common name of the species; OR
  2. Check with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia as the Managing Authority for CITES Endangered Fish Species and Marine Life. Please email inquiries to citeshq@dof.gov.my to determine whether the species you are interested in requires a permit or not.

Registration of an Arowana farm under the CITES Secretariat, Geneva

Application for registration of Arowana farm under the CITES Secretariat, Geneva must be sent to the Department of Fisheries Malaysia together with the Application for Registration of Breeding Farm in Captivity Paper Work using the format provided by the CITES Secretariat, namely Panduan Penyediaan Proposal (Annex 3).

In addition, the farm must be registered as a Scheduled Species Breeding Farm under Act 686 and registered with the Fisheries Biosecurity Division as a farm/exporter to enable the farm to apply for a Live Fish Permit and Health Certificate when carrying out export activities later. Please refer to the following links for further details and required documents:

Procedure to apply for a CITES Import/ Export or Re-export Permit

CITES Permits are only issued by the Headquarters of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia in Putrajaya. The following are the conditions that must be fulfilled to apply for a CITES permit:

  • CITES export permits are only issued to breeding farms (Arowana) that have obtained the approval and farm registration number from the CITES Secretariat in Geneva.
  • For CITES Import Permit applicants, the importer must be registered with the Fisheries Biosecurity Division as an importer and also registered as an exporter if carrying out re-export activities.

A. Export Permit Application Procedure

  • For export permit application, the applicant must fill in Permit Application Form FQ1- Amendment 2011.
    Certificate Form No. PIT – FC 02/11pin 2012 for marked fish or FC02/11Apin 2012 for unmarked fish that has been certified by staff from the District/State Fisheries Office conducting the inspection as well as a softcopy.
  • A copy of the invoice.

B. Import Permit Application Procedure

  • For import permit application, the applicant must fill in Permit Application Form FQ1- Amendment 2011.
  • A copy of the CITES export permit issued by the Management Authority of the exporting country.
  • A copy of the invoice.

C. Re-Export Permit Application Procedure

  • For re-export permit application, the applicant must fill in Permit Application Form FQ1- Amendment 2011.
  • A copy of the CITES import permit issued by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia during the incoming import application.
  • FC 05/11 re-export confirmation form for Arowana re-export application or FC 06/11 re-export confirmation form for coral re-export application and others.
  • A copy of the invoice.

All the information is required to be sent via email to the following address: citeshq@dof.gov.my. Once all the forms are completed, the applicant will receive a notification that the application received has been completed, or otherwise. If all information is sufficient, the permit will be processed completely within three (3) working days. A fee of RM 50.00 is charged for each permit issued by this Department.