REB Market Intelligence understands that Malaysia will introduce 100% inspection of recovered paper from September.
The country was expected to bring in these inspections earlier this year, but there has yet to be an announcement of when they will begin.
Sources have told REB Market Intelligence that they expect the new regulations to begin in September, although this has yet to be confirmed by Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) as yet.
In February, Malaysia released its guidelines on the import of recovered fibre, with the consultation on this due to end in March. However, the regulations on inspection and issuance of approval certificates for importers have not yet been implemented.
Under these rules, commodity codes that would be permitted for import subject to inspection would include:
- 470710 – unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or corrugated paper or paperboard
- 470720 – other paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not coloured in the mass
- 470730 – paper or paperboard made mainly of mechanical pulp (for example newspapers, journals and other similar printed matter).
However, 470790 (unsorted waste and scrap – effectively mixed paper) will not be permitted for import into Malaysia.
Permitted grades must meet the EN643 standard when imported into Malaysia.
Mills that import material will need approval from MITI and must not exceed their annual capacity volume with imports.
Importers will be required by Malaysian inspection authority Sirim to apply pre-shipment inspection to SIRIM or any accredited foreign inspection body. They will also need to apply to SIRIM for Certificate of Approval for each load and undertake post-shipment inspection at the port of entry and at any designated/manufacturer premises.
In the event of non-compliance, the manufacturer will need to return the waste paper to the country of origin and SIRIM will use a mandatory bank guarantee to cover transportation and other costs
The inspections will involve one sample being selected from every 50 tonnes.
