GEORGE TOWN, July 21 — Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has praised the government’s move to impose stricter controls on plastic waste imports under the amended Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2025, effective today.
The new ruling requires all plastic waste under tariff code 39.15 to be accompanied by a Certificate of Approval (COA) from SIRIM Berhad, ensuring only environmentally sound and regulated imports are allowed.
Under the new guidelines, Malaysia will only permit plastic waste imports from countries that have ratified the Basel Convention or have formal waste agreements with Malaysia—effectively barring nations like the United States from sending their plastic waste to the country.
SAM urges authorities to strictly enforce the regulations to prevent illegal imports, protect public health, and push for global accountability in managing plastic waste responsibly.
