KOTA BARU: The Fisheries Department will need at least 30 days to assess documents submitted by Thai authorities regarding the suspension of import permits (IPs) for five prawn species from the country, provided the information received is complete.
Its director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the assessment is being carried out by a technical team established by the department to examine the information submitted by Thailand during the second phase of the process.
He said the technical team is expected to meet next week before any decision is made on Thailand's application to resume prawn exports to Malaysia.
"The information is currently being assessed by the technical team. If the information provided is complete, we will require at least 30 days to evaluate every document and piece of information submitted.
"Once the assessment is completed, we will have a more comprehensive understanding of the information provided by the Thai authorities," he told reporters after officiating the 2026 MyAgropreneur and MyKomuniti Fisheries: Eastern Zone Carnival here on Saturday (July 4).
Malaysia still maintains the restriction of IPs for five prawn species from Thailand, which has been in effect since June 1, while the technical assessment of the information submitted continues.
Adnan said the suspension is also aimed at ensuring prawns imported into Malaysia are free from diseases that could threaten the local aquaculture industry, as well as prohibited chemicals that contravene existing regulations.
He said Malaysia is also facing a reciprocal issue, as exports of locally farmed prawns to Thailand have not been permitted since 2017.
"In this regard, the department is strengthening its aquatic animal health control system and compliance with the country's biosecurity standards to ensure locally farmed prawns meet Thailand's market requirements, including being free from diseases and prohibited chemicals," he said.
On May 16, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry announced the enforcement of a Certificate of Analysis requirement for imports of seabass from Thailand, as well as a temporary suspension on imports of five prawn species from that country, effective June 1.
The suspension will remain in place until the Thai authorities submit a complete official response to Malaysia's questionnaire. – Bernama
Fisheries Department, Imports, Suspension, Prawns, Seabass, Documents, Assessment
