Ministry: No restriction on fish imports

PUTRAJAYA: The Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Ministry said yesterday there is no restriction on the import of fish from any country.

The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) said in a statement that any eligible individual who adhered to the conditions could be an importer.

It said the ministry had never issued any fish import permit (AP).

LKIM said that to ensure food safety, importers must comply with the conditions in the application for the import permit issued by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) for import/ export via entry/exit points in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

The importers also need to obtain the LKIM Import Licence and Wholesale/ Wholesale ( Private Premises) Licence prior to obtaining the MAQIS import permit, it said.

LKIM said that for import/ export through entry/exit points in Sabah and Sarawak, the application must be made through LKIM and was subject to the stipulated conditions.

It said among the general conditions for the import of fish – fresh, live and frozen/ processed – was that the applicant must be a Malaysian citizen and the applicant’s company must be registered in Malaysia and have a wholesale (private premises) licence.

Information on the application for fish import licence can be obtained from the websites www.maqis.gov. my and https://elesen. lkim. gov.my.

LKIM said applications from transport agents or forwarding agents for the fish import/ export licences would not be considered. — Bernama