PUTRAJAYA: In a proactive move to bolster national food security, the Department of Agriculture has halved the grain import approval period from two months to one, ensuring smoother operations for the food and feed industries.
Agriculture Director-General Datuk Nor Sam Alwi (pic) said the decision was in direct response to industry needs, particularly for sectors reliant on imported grains as a primary raw material, especially for the animal feed sector, which forms the backbone of the protein supply chain.
"This decision was made to meet the critical needs of human food processing and animal feed industries.
"It was designed to ensure a sufficient, stable, and continuous supply of grain to support industrial operations and promote growth in the agricultural and food processing sectors," she told Bernama recently.
Nor Sam highlighted that the approval process has been accelerated through a comprehensive end-to-end digital system, from submission to the issuance of the Import Permit (IP), without compromising regulatory oversight and national biosecurity safety.
She said the previous system required multi-stage reviews, which involved a significantly longer processing time.
"The new process emphasises digitalisation and end-to-end system integration. The approvals are faster and more transparent, with uniform reviews and cross-checks.
"The matching of source-country information, phytosanitary requirements and permit approvals is now handled much more efficiently through an integrated digital platform," she said.
The initiative is driven by three key systems operating in concert: the Agriculture Department's Malaysia Import Control System (MyAICS), the national phytosanitary hub; the Ministry of Agriculture's AgroTrade System, which approves new source countries within five days; and MAQIS's ePermit System, which expedites and organises the final permit issuance.
Furthermore, she said shortening the grain import approval period is expected to deliver significant positive impacts for importers, the livestock industry, and the domestic market, particularly in ensuring a smoother supply chain for plant-based raw materials.
"It also ensures that every imported grain consignment complies with set phytosanitary regulations and is free from pest threats, in line with national biosecurity safety requirements, thereby supporting the smooth operation of the animal feed supply chain and stability of the domestic market," she emphasised.
Previously, the Agriculture Department reviewed grain import requirements following instances of non-compliance related to stored product pests and the presence of controlled articles (husks, stalks, hulls, etc.) in shipments.
In 2014, the Agriculture Department made IPs and Phytosanitary Certificates (PC) mandatory for the import of soybeans, corn, and all other grains for animal feed.
A uniform requirement for an IP and PC for all grain imports, regardless of form, purpose, or country of origin, has been in full effect since June 1, 2021, ensuring streamlined inspection and enforcement at entry points.
All grain imports into Malaysia are now subject to an IP, a PC, and a port-of-entry inspection conducted by MAQIS or the Departments of Agriculture of Sabah and Sarawak. Any non-compliant shipment will face quarantine measures. - Bernama
