How Much Does Each Type of Certification Cost? A Cost Overview (Malaysia)

When entering the Malaysian market, certification cost is not a single number—it's "which regulator your product falls under." The same shipment may need to pay a cosmetic notification fee, a halal certification fee and an electrical COA annual fee all at once, with amounts ranging from RM50 to several thousand ringgit. This article lays out the official fees for the most common categories, so you know where the money goes and which authority collects it before you set your budget.

First, the principle: everything listed below is the official fee charged by the competent authority, and does not include third-party testing fees, laboratory report fees, consultant/agent fees or translation fees—those are often the bulk of the total cost. Official fees are usually non-refundable once submitted, so be sure to confirm the category classification and that documents are complete before submitting.

Quick reference: official fees by authority

The RM50 for cosmetics is only the "notification fee"; if the product is ruled to contain medicinal ingredients and must go through supplement or Western-medicine registration, the cost jumps to the thousand-ringgit level—this is the most common budgeting misjudgement.

How to read each category

Supplements / traditional medicine (NPRA): the registration fee is based on the number of active ingredients, with single-ingredient and multi-ingredient differing by nearly double. DRGD Appendix 9 is the official fee text, and you should rely on the latest version before submitting. The registration is valid for 5 years; on expiry you must re-register and pay again.

Electrical appliances (ST + SIRIM): ST charges the COA annual fee (single-phase RM200, three-phase RM300), with SIRIM's testing and labelling fees charged separately. The COA is valid for only 12 months—it is a renew-every-year, pay-every-year recurring cost, so don't leave it out when planning long-term sales.

Medical devices (MDA): Class A (lowest risk) fees rise from 1 January 2026, with the application fee going from RM100 to RM500 plus a new RM750 registration fee; Classes B, C and D are higher, and most technical documentation additionally requires a CAB (Conformity Assessment Body) audit—that money is a market price, not an official fee.

Halal certification (JAKIM): the official fee itself is not high (hundred-ringgit level), but the real cost lies in halal traceability of raw materials, production-line auditing and document preparation. Multinational-enterprise tiers are higher.

Common mistakes

• Counting only the "one-off registration fee" and forgetting recurring costs such as the COA annual fee and 5-year re-registration.
• Applying the cosmetic RM50 to supplements—in reality a difference of more than 20 times.
• Ignoring licence fees: without an import / manufacturing / wholesale licence, your product certificate is of no use.
• Assuming official fees = total cost; testing, auditing, translation and agent fees are often several times the official fee.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is cosmetic notification really just RM50? Yes—the NPRA cosmetic notification fee is RM50 per product (including variants), valid for 2 years; but it is non-refundable once submitted, and if the product is ruled to contain medicinal ingredients and must switch to registration, the cost increases substantially.

Q: How much does supplement registration cost? Under NPRA's current fees, the processing fee is RM1,000, plus RM1,200 for a single active ingredient or RM2,000 for multiple ingredients; valid for 5 years, with the actual amount subject to the latest version of DRGD Appendix 9.

Q: Is electrical certification a one-time payment? No. ST's COA is on an annual-fee basis (single-phase RM200, three-phase RM300), valid for 12 months, requiring renewal and payment each year—it is a recurring cost.

Q: Did medical-device fees change in 2026? Yes. From 1 January 2026, MDA Class A medical-device application fees rise to RM500 with a new RM750 registration fee; Classes B, C and D have higher fees and mostly require a CAB audit.

Q: Do these fees include testing and consultant costs? No. All the above are competent-authority fees; third-party laboratory testing, production-line auditing, document translation and agent fees are charged separately, and are often the bulk of the total cost.

Self-check checklist

• [ ] Confirmed which authority regulates the product and which category it falls under
• [ ] Separately listed "one-off fees" and "recurring fees (annual / re-registration)"
• [ ] Factored licence fees (import / manufacturing / wholesale) into the budget
• [ ] Reserved for non-fee costs such as testing, auditing, translation and agents
• [ ] Verified amounts against the latest official fee schedule (e.g. DRGD Appendix 9)

Summary: Malaysia's certification costs depend heavily on category, so be sure to classify first, then look up the official fees, and factor in recurring costs such as annual fees and re-registration. To align timelines with your budget, read How long does each type of certification take? A timeline overview and The complete compliance roadmap for entering the Malaysian market.

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