Bernama reported that Malaysian Government has agreed to enforce mandatory standards on 6 tariff lines of aluminum sheets and foils effective November 1st 2011.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry said that implementation of the standards is to ensure raw materials used in end products met quality and safety requirements. It is also to minimize import of sub standard products and support the development and competitiveness of the local aluminum industry by producing high quality products that met international standards.

A series of consultations with related industries and associations on the enforcement of the standards were held by the ministry from January last year to this month.

Under the new ruling, importation of aluminum sheets and foils require importers to obtain a Certificate of Approval or a letter of exemption issued by SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd for manufactured products or Construction Industry Development Bhd for construction products."

MITI said that the COA issued by SIRIM or CIDB certify that the imported aluminum products conformed to requirements of Malaysia Standards or any other international standards recognized by SIRIM or CIDB.

The application fee for COA is MYR 150 and the verification fee is MYR 1,000. The submission of application can be made online (ePermit) and the approval is also done online. However, testing fees vary based on sampling plan and different product standards.

(Sourced from www.bernama.com)