Quarantine and VHC Veterinary Health Certificate for Imported Pet Food (Malaysia)

Importing pet food (dog food, cat food, animal feed and additives) into Malaysia is not just a matter of clearing customs as ordinary goods — it is an animal-source product that must go through the controlled process of quarantine and veterinary health. The three core things: DVS approval, an import permit issued by MAQIS, and a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC) issued by the exporting country's official authority. If any one is missing, the goods may be detained, returned or destroyed on arrival at the port.

Who regulates it? DVS, MAQIS and the Animal Feed Board

• DVS (Department of Veterinary Services): The technical competent authority for animals and animal products, responsible for risk assessment and (where necessary) granting import approval after veterinary inspection; authorized under the Animal Rules 1962 and others.
• MAQIS (Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department): Since 2013, the import permit for all animals and animal products in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan is issued by MAQIS, under the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (MAQIS Act 2011); the quarantine inspection on entry is also carried out by MAQIS.
• Animal Feed Board: The authority for the import feed licence for feed/feed additives, under the relevant feed legislation.

Import process (conceptual steps)

1. Product and factory eligibility: The pet food must be manufactured in the exporting country in premises approved and supervised by that country's competent veterinary authority, and proven safe for animal consumption.
2. Apply for import approval / permit: Apply through the DVS/MAQIS system (such as MyTradeLink); DVS conducts a risk assessment as appropriate.
3. Obtain the animal feed licence: Feed/additives additionally require a licence issued by the Animal Feed Board.
4. Prepare the VHC: Issued by the exporting country's official veterinary authority (see below).
5. Inspection on arrival: MAQIS conducts quarantine inspection at the port of entry, checking documents and cargo condition before release.

Key requirements of the Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC)

The VHC is the soul document of this process. According to the DVS import conditions, common requirements include:

• Language: Written in English.
• Validity: Issued within 14 days before export.
• Signature: Signed and endorsed by the exporting country's competent veterinary authority.
• Content: States the names and addresses of the cargo owner/consignee/manufacturing plant, the types, source and quantity of raw materials and products, product hygiene and safety declarations, and the country's assurances regarding specific animal diseases (such as the disease status of the relevant country).

Reminder: For different raw materials (poultry-source, bovine-source, containing ruminant ingredients, etc.) and different exporting countries, the DVS import conditions and VHC wording requirements may differ. Be sure to first obtain from DVS/MAQIS the latest import conditions for that product and that country of origin, then have the exporting country copy the wording exactly when issuing the certificate, to avoid rejection over mismatched text.

Document checklist on arrival (conceptual)

• MAQIS/DVS import permit
• Exporting country's official VHC
• Animal feed/additive licence (where applicable)
• Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
• Product label and ingredient information

Imported vs locally produced

Imported pet food must clear four gates: "DVS approval + MAQIS permit + VHC + port quarantine"; locally manufactured pet feed mainly follows the Animal Feed Board's feed manufacturing/sales licence route and does not need to produce an exporting country's VHC for each batch. The upfront paperwork and timelines differ greatly, so evaluate both when choosing a supply source.

Common mistakes

• The VHC has passed its 14-day validity, or is not signed by an official veterinary authority.
• Not first checking the specific import conditions for that country of origin/raw material, so the VHC wording does not match DVS requirements.
• Only handling customs clearance, missing the animal feed licence or MAQIS permit.
• The plant is not approved/supervised by the exporting country's competent authority.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is a VHC mandatory to import pet food? Yes. As an animal product, each import batch usually requires an accompanying Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC) issued by the exporting country's official veterinary authority.

Q: Who issues the import permit? Since 2013, the import permit for animals and animal products in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan is issued by MAQIS; DVS is responsible for risk assessment and technical approval.

Q: How long is the VHC valid? It is generally required to be issued and endorsed by the exporting country's competent veterinary authority within 14 days before export, and written in English.

Q: What else is needed besides the VHC? Commonly also a DVS/MAQIS import permit, an animal feed/additive licence, and documents such as invoices, bills of lading and labels; on arrival MAQIS conducts quarantine inspection.

Q: Are the requirements the same for different countries/raw materials? Not necessarily. Import conditions and VHC wording vary by country of origin and raw material (poultry-source, bovine-source, containing ruminant ingredients, etc.); you should first obtain from DVS/MAQIS the latest import conditions for that product.

Self-check list

• [ ] Confirmed the manufacturing plant is approved and supervised by the exporting country's competent veterinary authority
• [ ] Obtained from DVS/MAQIS the latest import conditions for that product and that country of origin
• [ ] Obtained the MAQIS import permit and (where applicable) the animal feed licence
• [ ] VHC is in English, issued within 14 days before export, endorsed by an official veterinarian, and worded to match requirements
• [ ] Prepared invoices, bills of lading, labels and other documents for inspection on arrival

Summary

The compliance backbone of importing pet food is "DVS approval + MAQIS permit + VHC + port quarantine." The VHC's validity (14 days), signing authority and wording are the easiest to get wrong — first obtain the import conditions for that country of origin, then have the exporting country issue the certificate with matching wording, to be safe.

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