- ISPM 15 on imports
- Required
- Enforced since
- —
- Treatments
- HT, MB, DH, SF per ISPM 15
- Plant protection authority
- Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA), Plant Quarantine and Biosecurity Division
- Common pallet sizes
- 1200 × 1000 mm
1100 × 1100 mm
1200 × 800 mm - Main ports
- Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Penang, Pasir Gudang
Overview
Malaysia's national plant protection work sits with the Department of Agriculture, whose IPPC contact is based in Putrajaya. Plant quarantine officers of the department inspect incoming goods at seaports, airports and land crossings, and wood packaging is expected to follow ISPM 15 with the IPPC mark. If the material is untreated or carries infestation, the usual outcomes are fumigation, destruction or return, with costs borne by the importer. We were unable to verify the year when Malaysian enforcement started, nor the exact current statute, so we have left the year blank and refer readers to the IPPC page. Port Klang, on the Strait of Malacca, is the biggest container hub, and Tanjung Pelepas in Johor competes for transhipment, with Penang serving the north and Pasir Gudang the industrial south. Because the country transships heavily, many containers pass through without ever clearing customs. Malaysia is a major furniture and rubberwood producer, so pallets of local rubberwood and other plantation timber are cheap and widely produced by registered treatment plants that stamp them for export. Dominant footprints are 1200 × 1000 mm and 1100 × 1100 mm, with 1200 × 800 mm used in some European-linked electronics and chemicals plants. Rental pallet pools exist in the region but local one-way wooden pallets remain the norm.
Key points
- The IPPC contact is at DOA headquarters in Putrajaya
- Plant quarantine legislation: Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (current statute not verified)
- Imports are checked at designated entry points by DOA officers
- Non-compliant wood packaging may be fumigated, destroyed or re-exported
Frequently asked questions
Does Malaysia require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?
Yes, imported wood packaging should be treated and IPPC-marked under ISPM 15 and may be inspected by the Department of Agriculture.
Who is Malaysia's NPPO?
The Department of Agriculture Malaysia.
Which ports handle most container trade?
Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas.
Sources
Import rules change. Confirm current requirements with the national plant protection organization or your importer before shipping. This page is general information, not legal advice.