Pet Food Importer Registration SOP in Malaysia: Feed Import Licence + MAQIS Per-Batch Permit

Legally importing pet food (dog food, cat food, pet treats) into Malaysia is not as simple as "get a forwarder to declare it in." Pet food is legally feed, the competent authority is the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), under the Feed Act 2009 (Act 698). The core regime is two-tier: first register as an importer with DVS's Malaysian Feed Board (Lembaga Makanan Haiwan) and obtain a feed import licence (under Section 9 of the Feed Act); then, for each batch, apply to the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) for an Import Permit after DVS approval. Miss either tier and the goods are held on arrival. This article breaks this SOP into executable steps.

Two-tier structure: licence vs. per-batch permit

You need the licence (company eligibility) first before talking about the per-batch permit (this shipment). For an overview of the whole import process, read The Process and DVS Permits for Importing Pet Food into Malaysia first.

Step 1: Register as a feed importer (obtain the licence)

Under Section 9 of the Feed Act 2009, anyone wishing to import feed or feed additives must first register with the Feed Board Secretariat under the DVS Feed Division and obtain an import licence. Key points:

• The applicant must be a company/entity registered in Malaysia (overseas brands need a local importer or agent).
• Have company registration documents and business details ready, and file using the DVS Feed Board's prescribed form and fee.
• The licence is valid to the end of the calendar year and must be renewed annually—it is not once and for all.
• This is "company-level" eligibility; only after obtaining it can you proceed to the per-batch permit.

Step 2: First import—the manufacturer's application form

For a particular product/brand being imported for the first time, DVS requires the "Application Form to Import Pet Food / Animal Feed into Malaysia" (downloadable from the Import/Export section of the DVS website), and:

• For products containing animal protein, the application form must be completed by the "manufacturer" itself, declaring the animal species, source country and processing method of the raw materials.
• DVS bases its risk assessment (SPS) on this, judging whether that product/source country can be imported; where necessary it requests supplementary documents or an on-site plant audit.
• This step effectively files and approves the "product + manufacturer + source"; subsequent imports of the same product then follow the per-batch permit.

Whether the ingredients pass this gate depends on whether the raw materials cross the banned list; for details see Pet Food Ingredient Restrictions.

Step 3: Per-batch import permit (MAQIS e-Permit)

Before each actual batch arrives:

1. Open an account on the MAQIS e-Permit system (via Dagangnet; on the DVS side there is a separate eVETPermit system, with evetpermit.dvs.gov.my as the new portal from August 2025), or appoint a MAQIS-approved clearing agent.
2. After obtaining DVS's import approval for that batch, submit the Import Permit application.
3. Attach the health certificate issued by the exporting country's competent authority, the manufacturer's establishment number, product classification and other documents.
4. DVS/MAQIS conduct document review and (where necessary) border inspection and quarantine.
5. Per DVS's general practice, the processing time for a postal application is about 3–5 working days (depending on case volume).

Step 4: Labelling compliance

Getting the goods in is not enough—they must also be labelled correctly. Feed labelling follows the Feed (Labelling) Regulations 2012; for the mandatory items and porcine-source labelling, see Mandatory Labelling Items and How to Mark a Guaranteed Analysis.

Import vs. local

Importers go through "import licence + per-batch import permit + exporting-country health certificate"; local manufacturers/sellers instead apply to the DVS Feed Board for a manufacture or sale licence (under the Feed (Manufacture and Sale) Regulations 2012), needing no per-batch import permit but equally bound by ingredient and labelling rules. The ingredient red lines are identical for both; the difference is the "licence type" and "method of proving source."

Common mistakes

• Only arranging customs clearance without registering the feed importer licence—goods held on arrival.
• Letting the "importer" fill the manufacturer's application form for products containing animal protein (it should be the manufacturer).
• Arranging shipment without an exporting-country health certificate.
• Failing to renew the licence past the calendar year-end, so imports lapse in the new year.
• Declaring as usual even though the source country is being suspended by DVS.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Must I register a licence before importing pet food? Yes. Under Section 9 of the Feed Act 2009, importing feed/feed additives requires first registering with the DVS Feed Board and obtaining an import licence, valid to year-end and renewable annually.

Q: Are the licence and the import permit the same thing? No. The licence is company-level import eligibility (annual); the Import Permit is applied for per batch, submitted on MAQIS e-Permit after DVS approval. Both are required.

Q: Why must the manufacturer fill the form at first import? For products containing animal protein, DVS requires the manufacturer to declare the raw-material species and source country for a risk assessment; this is a prerequisite for approving that product/source, and the importer cannot fill this part on its behalf.

Q: How long does approval of a batch take? Per DVS's general practice, the processing time for a postal application is about 3–5 working days; the actual time depends on case volume, source-country risk, and whether supplementary documents/inspection are needed.

Q: Can an overseas brand without a Malaysian company import on its own? No. The licence applicant must be a locally registered entity; an overseas brand usually appoints a Malaysian licensed importer or agent as the importing party.

Q: Is an exporting-country health certificate needed for every batch? Yes. Import of pet food containing animal ingredients requires a health certificate issued by the exporting country's competent authority, stating that the source and processing meet Malaysian conditions.

Self-check checklist

• [ ] Registered as a local company with the DVS Feed Board and obtained an import licence (valid for the year)
• [ ] The first-import product has had the DVS application form completed by the manufacturer and approved
• [ ] The source country is not suspended by DVS
• [ ] Each batch has the exporting-country health certificate and manufacturer establishment number ready
• [ ] The per-batch Import Permit has been submitted on MAQIS e-Permit / eVETPermit
• [ ] The label complies with the Feed (Labelling) Regulations 2012

Conclusion

For the pet food import SOP, remember the three-part rule: licence first, then permit, and a health certificate with every batch: register with the DVS Feed Board for the annual import licence, have the manufacturer file and approve the first product, then, for each batch, obtain DVS approval before applying to MAQIS for the import permit. Complete all three tiers—company eligibility, product filing and per-batch documents—and your goods won't be held at the border.

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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.