Southeast Asia · Case study

Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), Integrated Inspection at Entry Points

Malaysia (national; 57 entry points in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan)Ongoing; Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728); 2024 annual data

Malaysia brings plant, animal, fish and food inspection at its borders under one department, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS). The government set up MAQIS in 2005 so that separate agencies would no longer duplicate functions at entry points (MAQIS, 2025). Its stated objective is to make sure that plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural produce, soil and microorganisms imported into Malaysia are free from pests, diseases and contaminants (MAQIS, n.d.a). MAQIS controls 57 entry points in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan (MAQIS, 2025). Its directory lists posts at the country’s main seaports (MAQIS, n.d.b).

Approach

One law for all border biosecurity checks. The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728) provides for integrated quarantine, inspection and enforcement services at entry points, quarantine stations and quarantine premises (Government of Malaysia, 2011).

Clear power to inspect cargo and conveyances. Under section 9, MAQIS may quarantine and inspect any plant, animal, carcass, fish, agricultural produce, soil, microorganism, premises, conveyance or other article at entry points. The Act defines a conveyance as any aircraft, vehicle, vessel or other mode of transport by land, sea or air (Government of Malaysia, 2011).

Sampling and seizure. Enforcement officers may take samples for analysis without payment and may stop, examine and seize conveyances used in an offence, together with the goods found in them (Government of Malaysia, 2011).

Permits linked to inspection. MAQIS issues import permits through its New ePermit system. It issued 293,065 import permits in 2024 (MAQIS, 2025).

Results

In 2024 MAQIS took 7,174 samples from plant commodities, up from 4,232 in 2023. It analyzed 257 samples of imported pork and pork products for African swine fever, and five were positive. It made 1,808 seizures or detentions of pork and pork products. It recorded 639 cases of breaches of Act 728, involving commodities worth RM553.64 million (MAQIS, 2025).

Transferability

For DMC ports, MAQIS shows how plant, animal, fish and food checks can be combined in one border agency with one law. Malaysia created MAQIS so that separate agencies would no longer duplicate functions at entry points.

Ports can work with the national quarantine agency to set aside space for inspection and holding at container terminals, link permits to inspection, and use sampling and seizure records to track what inspections find.

Sources

All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.