SG 138/23
Malaysia has issued the Trade Descriptions (Marking of Pre-Packaged Goods) Order 2023, effective from September 1, 2023. This order applies to all pre-packaged goods manufactured in or imported into Malaysia, and covers the requirements for their marking
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living issued a new order under the Trade Description Act 2011 on June 6, 2023. This order, cited as the Trade Descriptions (Marking of Pre-Packaged Goods) Order 2023, took effect on September 1, 2023.
Under the order, all pre-packaged goods that are packaged, manufactured or produced in Malaysia, or which are imported into Malaysia, must comply with the marking requirements provided.
All pre-packaged goods must be marked with the following information:
- Indication of goods
- Nominal quantity in unit measurements as specified in the first schedule
- Quantity indication by count, expressed in numbers
- Name and address of the wholesaler, producer, manufacturer or importer, as the case may be, in relation to the goods
- For pre-packaged goods that contain solid goods in liquid medium, the nett weight and drained weight shall be marked as appropriate:
- Nett weight if the liquid medium is not meant to be left over after use
- Nett weight and drained weight if the liquid medium is meant to be left over after use, or if it might or might not be left over
All markings on pre-packaged goods shall:
- Be legible
- Use clear words in the national language or national language and any other language if the pre-packaged goods originated from Malaysia
- Use clear words in the national language or English language if the pre-packaged goods originated outside Malaysia
- Be stamped or printed in colour that is clearly different from the background colour of the pre-packaged goods
- Have a minimum height (between 2 – 6 mm) as specified in the Second Schedule
The average value of the actual quantity determined in the sample of pre-packaged goods inspected shall not be less than the nominal quantity. However, there are tolerable deficiency provisions listed in the table below, with no pre-packaged goods allowed to have a negative error twice the tolerable deficiency specified.
| Nominal quantity in g or ml From | Nominal quantity in g or ml To | Tolerable deficiency as % of nominal quantity | Tolerable deficiency in g or ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 50 | 9.0 | - |
| 50 | 100 | - | 4.5 |
| 100 | 200 | 4.5 | - |
| 200 | 300 | - | 9.0 |
| 300 | 500 | 3.0 | - |
| 500 | 1,000 | - | 15.0 |
| 1,000 | 10,000 | 1.5 | - |
| 10,000 | 15,000 | - | 150 |
| 15,000 | 50,000 | 1 | - |
Table 1
For pre-packaged goods declared in length, the tolerable deficiency allowed is 2% of the nominal quantity, while for pre-packaged goods declared in area, the tolerable deficiency allowed is 3% of the nominal quantity.
For pre-packaged goods declared in counts up to fifty, the actual quantity shall not be less than the nominal quantity. When the declared counts is more than fifty, the actual quantity shall not be less, on average, than the nominal quantity and the negative error is one piece for each of the first hundred.
The number of non-confirming packages allowed are provided in the fourth schedule. The sampling plan for packages is also specified in the fourth schedule.
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