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On 23 April 2025, the Department of Environment (DOE), acting as Malaysia’s Competent Authority under the Stockholm Convention, issued a reminder to industries involved in the export and import of chemicals classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). 

Requirements for Export to Non-Party States 

Exports of POPs to countries that are not Parties to the Stockholm Convention are only permitted if the DOE issues an Annual Certification. This certification serves two essential purposes: 

• It must clearly outline the intended use of the chemical; and 

• It must confirm Malaysia’s commitment to protecting human health and the environment, in line with the Convention’s provisions. 

 
Requirements for Importing Industries  

To initiate the process, the importing industry is required to submit thorough documentation to the Department of Environment (DOE) before applying for import approval. This documentation must include: 

• A complete Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the chemical; 

• Details on the safe handling, storage, and transportation of the substance; 

• Environmentally responsible disposal plans; 

• Compliance monitoring strategies; and 

• Worker protection measures and any public awareness efforts, if applicable. 

Following the DOE’s review and approval of these documents, the Annual Certification will be granted to the importing industry. The importing industry must then forward the certification and relevant documents to the exporting country. 

Exporting Party's Obligations 

The exporter must submit the certification to their National Authority at least 60 days before starting the export process. At present, all procedures must be carried out manually and not through the MyEHS system (Malaysia’s online environmental management portal). 

This process upholds global standards for the safe and transparent handling of hazardous substances and underscores Malaysia’s commitment to the principles of the Stockholm Convention.

Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) recently published a notice on the portal of the Malaysia Environmentally Hazardous Substances System (MyEHS) outlining the country’s regulatory position on two persistent organic pollutants (POPs): Dechlorane Plus and UV-328.  

Stockholm Convention Signed but Not Yet Ratified
While Malaysia has signed the Stockholm Convention but has not yet ratified it. Under the Convention, both substances are subject to strict control measures that prohibit their production, use, import, and export, except under certain exemptions. These exemptions must meet the technical and procedural conditions specified in Article 4 of the Convention, including registration with the Stockholm Convention’s Secretariat and a five-year validity period from the Convention’s entry into force for the listed chemicals. 

No Plans to Register Exemptions 
However, since Malaysia has not yet ratified the Convention, the country is not eligible to register any exemptions and currently has no plans to do so. The DOE encourages stakeholders to consult the official Stockholm Convention web portal for further information on allowable exemptions. For local regulatory guidance on the production or use of these chemicals, stakeholders should contact the Chemical Management Division of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).