Importing Korean Cosmetics / Food into Malaysia: A Guide

For Korean cosmetics and food entering Malaysia, the most common pitfall is "assuming Korean certifications can be reused directly." The reality is: cosmetics must all be notified to NPRA under CDCR 1984 (Notification), and food must comply with FSQD's Food Regulations 1985 labelling, and both must have a Malaysian local company act as the certificate / notification holder before they can be listed. The good news is that Korea is a party to the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA); with a Form AK and compliance with the rules of origin, you can enjoy preferential import tariffs. This article focuses on the two K-mainstays—beauty and food—and their market-entry essentials.

Korean cosmetics / food to Malaysia: competent authorities

For the overall launch cadence, see the market compliance roadmap.

Cosmetics: NPRA notification essentials

The core of importing K-beauty is NPRA cosmetic notification (not "registration"):

• Legal basis: CDCR 1984 Regulation 18A—unnotified cosmetics may not be manufactured, sold or imported.
• Holder: a Malaysian-registered company must act as the Cosmetic Notification Holder (CNH), serving as the point of contact with NPRA.
• Validity: the notification is valid for 2 years and should be renewed before it expires.
• Fee: the notification processing fee is RM50 per product (and variant).
• System: all submissions are made online via NPRA's QUEST3+.

Labelling and claims are also regulated: no medical / therapeutic claims are allowed (otherwise the product may be classified as a medicine requiring MAL registration), and ingredients must not contain NPRA-prohibited substances. For details, see the cosmetic NPRA guide.

Food: FSQD labelling and import

Korean food (instant noodles, snacks, beverages, etc.) must comply with the Food Regulations 1985: the 6 mandatory labelling items, statutory labelling in Malay or English, plus the country of origin and local importer's name and address; specified items also require nutrition labelling. Korean-only packaging must be over-labelled with a compliant label. For details, see the complete food labelling guide. For products containing animal-derived ingredients or making halal claims, the halal certificate must be issued by a JAKIM-recognised Korean certification body.

Tariffs and taxes

• AKFTA Form AK: goods meeting the RVC 40% or change-in-tariff-heading (CTH) rules of origin can enjoy preferential import tariffs; Form AK can be obtained from the FMM in Malaysia.
• Sales Tax (SST): standard 10% (some 5% / exempt), levied on import.
• LVG: from 2024, low-value goods sold online at RM500 or below per item are subject to 10% sales tax, and those exceeding RM500,000 per year must register with MyLVG.

Import vs. local: responsibility and holder

When Korean products are listed as imports, compliance responsibility falls on the local importer / CNH: statutory labelling changed to Malay or English, adding the country of origin (Made in Korea) and importer's name and address; Korean-only labels must be over-labelled. The cosmetic CNH and health-supplement MAL holder must both be Malaysian companies, and overseas brands must set up a local company or authorised agent.

Common mistakes

• Using Korea's KFDA / Korean halal mark as the basis for Malaysian compliance.
• Making cosmetic claims that reach "whitening to therapeutic" levels, getting classified as a medicine by NPRA.
• Making only one notification for a whole series of colours / specifications (each item / variant should be notified individually).
• Missing nutrition labelling or omitting the importer's name and address for food.

Pre-launch self-check checklist

• [ ] Cosmetics have completed NPRA notification via QUEST3+, with a local company as CNH
• [ ] Food complies with the Food Regulations 1985, including nutrition labelling (for specified items)
• [ ] Label is in Malay / English, with country of origin and importer's name and address
• [ ] Assessed the AKFTA Form AK preferential tariff
• [ ] Claims do not involve medical / therapeutic effects
• [ ] Halal certificate (if claimed) issued by a JAKIM-recognised body

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Do Korean cosmetics need registration or notification in Malaysia? It is "Notification," submitted to NPRA under CDCR 1984, with 2-year validity, an RM50 processing fee per item, handled by a local CNH via QUEST3+.

Q: Can K-beauty's Korean certifications be reused directly? No. Regardless of whether the product is already on the market in Korea, importing into Malaysia requires a separate NPRA notification.

Q: Does Korean food get preferential tariffs? Korea is a party to AKFTA; goods that meet the rules of origin and hold Form AK can enjoy preferential import tariffs; sales tax still applies.

Q: Can Korean packaging be listed directly? No. Statutory labelling must be in Malay or English; Korean-only packaging must be over-labelled with a compliant label, adding the country of origin and local importer's name and address.

Conclusion

The two key hurdles for Korean cosmetics and food entering Malaysia are NPRA cosmetic notification and FSQD food labelling, plus a local holder and a compliant label; on the tariff side, make good use of the AKFTA Form AK. Get these in place and K-products can settle firmly into the market.

Want to confirm whether your Korean cosmetics / food label is compliant? Run a free label check now.

This article is compiled from official sources for reference only; actual compliance is subject to the latest official texts and reviews of the competent authorities.