PETALING JAYA: The regulation requiring all engine oil products in Malaysia to possess Sirim QAS International Sdn Bhd certification has been postponed until October, says the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
This comes less than a week after the Trade Descriptions Order (Certification and Marking of Engine Oil for Motor Vehicles) 2024 came into force on Monday.
Ministry director-general (enforcement) Datuk Azman Adam said the ministry received appeals and feedback from industry players and associations regarding technical difficulties in adhering to the order.
“This is especially challenging in selling off existing engine oil supplies that have already been distributed or are in the local market.
“In line with this, the ministry has agreed to defer the enforcement of this order for six months.
“The ministry urges all industry players to take the necessary measures and ensure their products sold in the market will possess the conformity label issued by Sirim QAS beginning Oct 7,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Once the postponement period ends, Azman said strict action will be taken against importers, distributors or traders found selling engine oil products without Sirim QAS certification.
Corporate bodies will face a fine not exceeding RM200,000, if convicted.
Non-corporate bodies will face a fine of not more than RM100,000 or a jail term of no longer than three years or both.
“At the same time, the industry will continue holding engagements to ensure industry players take immediate steps in adhering to the Trade Descriptions Order (Certification and Marking of Engine Oil for Motor Vehicles) 2024,” he said.
Previously, interest groups have said the move will protect consumers, while helping authorities curb the sale of counterfeit oils.
The order was actually gazetted on Oct 11 last year but the government gave manufacturers six months until April 7 to comply with the directives.
Under this directive, those looking to supply motor vehicle engine oil have to make an application to Sirim QAS as the competent authority, to obtain certification and conformity label.
Engine oil here refers to oil used for lubrication of internal combustion engine motor vehicles.
According to the Guidelines for Certification and Marking of Engine Oils for Motor Vehicles on the Sirim QAS website, products must undergo several tests.
Upon successful compliance, the applicant will be given a certificate of genuine product licence or a batch verification report.
Successful applicants then mark their product with the Sirim genuine product certification.
They are also entitled to apply for the Conformity Label, which must be affixed at the top of the container lid of the engine oil.
Engine oils with the Conformity Label will be selected from the market to undergo periodic tests to confirm compliance.
Between January 2019 and February this year, 240 complaints regarding motor vehicle engine oil products were received by the ministry.
A total of 36 enforcement actions were taken, with seizure amounting to RM1,154,198.
