IMPORT PERMITS NEEDED FOR AGRO-FOOD

Measure to ensure food is free from diseases and pests, says ministry

IMPORTERS of agro-food items must still obtain Import Permits (IP). This is to ensure bio-security control at the country’s borders. The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry yesterday said this decision would also ensure that imported products were safe and free from pests or diseases.

“The decision to abolish Approved Permits (AP) was made by the cabinet.

“Although APs are no longer required to bring in agro-food commodities from abroad, importers must still have IPs to ensure biosecurity control at the borders.”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government had decided to do away with APs effective immediately so that Malaysia would have sufficient food.

It was reported that Malaysia might face a food crisis in the middle of this year given the rising global oil prices, extreme weather, Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Malaysia spent more than

RM50 billion a year to import basic food items, such as rice (30 per cent of needs), beef (78 per cent), mutton (90 per cent), and round cabbage (60 per cent).

The amount spent to import food continued to increase at a rate of 4.1 per cent a year, from RM45.3 billion in 2015 to RM55.4 billion last year.

The ministry said although the APs for most food items had been abolished, it was, however, maintained for importing rice.

“The ministry will continue to ensure continuity in the agrofood sector so that people will get sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

“At the same time, the wellbeing of local food producers will be safeguarded.”