In 2025, Malaysia is making a significant shift in food safety policy. The country’s new Food (Amendment) Regulations 2025, enforceable from September 1, introduce two major updates: a national limit on industrial trans fats and a reclassification of the veterinary drug colistin. These amendments align Malaysia’s food regulation landscape more closely with global standards on both nutrition and antimicrobial resistance.
Under the new Regulation 38B of the Food Regulations 1985, Malaysia will prohibit the sale, preparation, import, or advertisement of food intended for final consumers or retail that contains more than 2 grams of trans fatty acids per 100 grams of total fat. The rule excludes naturally occurring trans fats found in animal-origin fat (such as dairy or meat), focusing instead on industrially produced trans fats—often found in partially hydrogenated oils.
This makes Malaysia one of the latest countries to adopt WHO-recommended limits, joining the ranks of the EU, Thailand, Singapore, and others in a global effort to reduce diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The new rule will affect both imported and domestic products, making it a nationwide compliance requirement for food businesses.
Trans fats are strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and have no known health benefits. The WHO considers eliminating industrially produced trans fats a critical step toward preventing heart attacks and strokes worldwide. By enforcing a clear legal threshold, Malaysia is taking proactive steps to protect public health, especially as consumption of processed foods increases.
For manufacturers and importers, this rule means reformulating products that rely on partially hydrogenated oils and ensuring all fat-containing products are tested for compliance. Retailers and distributors will also need to review inventory to ensure that non-compliant goods are not sold after the September 2025 deadline.
In addition to the trans fat limit, the 2025 amendments revise Malaysia’s classification of colistin, a last-resort antibiotic used in veterinary medicine. The Fifteenth A Schedule of the Food Regulations is amended to:
Remove colistin from Table I, where it was previously listed without context.
Add colistin to Table II, aligning it with substances that are subject to strict residue monitoring in food-producing animals.
This change reflects growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Colistin has been flagged by the WHO as a "critically important antimicrobial" in human medicine, and its overuse in livestock has been linked to resistant bacterial strains. By strengthening control over colistin in the food supply chain, Malaysia is reinforcing its commitment to national AMR strategies.
Food manufacturers, exporters, and importers targeting the Malaysian market must take immediate steps to comply with both rules:
For trans fats:
Reformulate recipes that use partially hydrogenated oils.
Conduct fat composition testing to ensure levels stay below 2g/100g fat.
Review labeling and advertising materials for compliance.
For colistin:
Audit supply chains for any veterinary drug use in food-producing animals.
Ensure imported meat and animal products comply with revised residue control rules.
Work closely with veterinary and agricultural partners to avoid non-compliant exports.
Enforcement will begin on September 1, 2025, and applies to any food sold, advertised, or prepared for final consumers or retail distribution.
Malaysia’s move mirrors global trends. The WHO’s REPLACE initiative calls for countries to eliminate industrial trans fats by 2023—a target missed by many. With the 2g/100g fat limit, Malaysia aligns with the global best practice already in force in:
European Union: same trans fat threshold across all member states
Thailand and Singapore: bans on partially hydrogenated oils
South Korea: mandatory trans fat labeling and intake limits
India: phased reduction to 2g/100g fat, now fully enforced
Similarly, colistin restrictions have been rising globally. The EU banned all colistin use in food animals for growth promotion. China, Brazil, and South Korea have implemented similar restrictions or surveillance measures to control residues and reduce resistance risk.
Businesses should expect increased surveillance, inspections, and possible product testing by Malaysian authorities. While no grace period is formally stated in the regulation, enforcement is likely to intensify in Q4 2025. Companies exporting to Malaysia should act now to review formulations and supply chains, as non-compliance could result in rejected shipments, product recalls, or penalties.
Stakeholders across the food chain—from R&D to quality assurance—must stay up to date on these changes and adapt early. With proper planning, the September 2025 transition can be smooth and risk-free.
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