4. Labeling Requirements

General Foods
Malaysia

This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.

4.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters

Food products in Malaysia should comply with the standards and labeling requirements in the Food Regulations 1985 Updated December 2023 [1]. Part IV Regulations 9 to 14 describe the requirements for General Foods, while specific labeling requirements are also laid in product regulations.

Unless specified in these Regulations, every package containing food for sale shall bear on it the following particulars:

1. Appropriate Designation / Description of the Food / Product Name
2. Quantitative Ingredients Declaration (QUID)
3. Additional Statement Below the Appropriate Designation of the Food
4. List of Ingredients 
5. Nutritional labeling 
6. Labeling of Foods Known to Cause Hypersensitivity
7. Statement on Additives 
8. Minimum Net Weight / Volume / Number of Package Content
9. Manufacturer / Importer / Country of Origin 
10. Date Marking 
11. Pictorial Illustration 
12. List of Ingredients 
13. Statement on Probiotic Culture 
14. Comply with the Prohibited statement/claim requirement
15. Statement on probiotic culture requirement

The form and manner of labeling as well as the size and color of letters are described in Regulations 12 and 13.   

Please refer to Guideline on Labeling Requirement under Food Act 1983 [2] and Regulations thereunder [1] for details of each requirement.

4.2 Languages

In the case of food produced, prepared, or packaged in Malaysia, the label shall be in Bahasa Malaysia and may include any translation thereof in any other language.

In the case of imported food, the label shall be in either Bahasa Malaysia or English, and in either case, may include any translation thereof in any other language.

4.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers

The authorities verbally confirmed that they accept additional stickers for mandatory labeling information, but only with prior approval. This approval process typically applies to products detained at entry points due to non-compliance with labeling requirements. For other reasons requiring an additional sticker, an official letter to the Ministry of Health (MOH) is necessary. However, there are currently no published guidelines for this, as it is considered an internal procedure. 

4.4 Product Legal Name

• The appropriate designation of the food shall contain the common name of its principal ingredients. 
• The product name must illustrate the true nature of the product. 
• The product name of the food shall be prominent in height, visual emphasis, and position so as to be conspicuous by comparison with any other matter appearing on the label.

4.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements

N/A. Please refer to Section 4.5 of category/product-specific guidebooks.

4.6 Authority Approval

In Malaysia, obtaining approval from the authority for food product labeling is not compulsory but is a voluntary submission to the authority. However, to ensure that the product label meets the regulations, it is highly recommended to obtain approval from the authority. 

4.7 Additional Notes on Labeling

There are two procedures that the industry may follow in carrying out labeling screening with the authority as follows: 

1. Application for labeling screening to FSQD
   1. Process
      1. The industry can apply the services online using the FOSIM (FOSIM - Food Safety Information System of Malaysia) System at https://fosim.moh.gov.my/fssm/public/home 
      2. Labeling screening procedure
      3. Submission of application in the FOSIM system
      4. The label will be screened
      5. Feedback notifying either compliance or non-compliance with the Food Regulations 1985 will be issued to the applicant without any notification of specific non-compliance on the label
      6. Corrective action may be taken by the industry and the amended label will be re-sent for screening by the Food Safety and Quality Program up to two times without any additional charges
      7. A letter of compliance will be issued for the label that meets all the requirements under the Food Regulations 1985
   2. Required documents.
      1. Complete product formulation 
      2. Product label
      3. Letter of Product Classification from NPRA (for Food Drug Interface products only)
      4. A copy of those certificates/awards if contains logo on the label (if relevant) (e.g. halal, GMP, Organic)
   3. Estimated cost 
      1. A fee of RM250 is charged for each label.
   4. Duration of the process
      1. 3 – 5 months
2. Application for label advisory services to FSQD
   1. Process
      1. The industry can apply the services online using the FOSIM (FOSIM - Food Safety Information System of Malaysia) at https://fosim.moh.gov.my/fssm/public/home 
      2. Labeling screening procedure
      3. Submission of application in the FOSIM system
      4. The label will be screened and will detail all the commentary for the non-compliance on the label
      5. Full commentary for non-compliance on the label will be detailed in the FOSIM system
      6. Corrective action may be taken by the industry and the amended label will be re-sent for screening by the Food Safety and Quality Program up to two times without any additional charges. 
      7. A letter of compliance will be issued for the label that meets all the requirements under the Food Regulations 1985
   2. Required documents
      1. Complete Product formulation 
      2. Product label
      3. Letter of Product Classification from NPRA (for Food Drug Interface products only)
      4. A copy of those certificates/awards if contains logo on the label (if relevant)
   3. Estimated cost and
      1. A fee of RM1,000 is charged for each label
   4. Duration of the process
   5. 3 – 5 months

4.8 References

1. Food Regulations 1985 Update December 2023 (PUA 209_2020) thereunder

https://hq.moh.gov.my/fsq/peraturanperaturan-makanan-1985

2. Guideline on Labelling Requirement under Food Act 1983

PDF attached below