Companies and individuals manufacturing and importing non-surgical face masks must get their products certified by SIRIM before July 4.
Failure to do so will see first-time offenders slapped with fines of up to RM200,000 for companies, and RM100,000, or a three-year jail term, or both, for individuals.
On March 8, Twentytwo13, first revealed that non-medical grade face masks sold in Malaysia would have to be certified by SIRIM, the country’s leading testing, inspection, and certification services provider.
A source had then justified the move, saying it was “to ensure that consumers were better protected”.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, in a statement today, said the ruling came following the gazetting of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking) of Non-Medical Face Mask Order 2022, under the Trade Descriptions Act, 2011.
This was to ensure non-medical face masks, regardless of where they are made, complied with local safety standards.
The ministry said the requirement will see ‘MS SIRIM’ labels placed on boxes or packaging. The labels must be easily visible to consumers.
The ministry hoped that with the compliance of standards by manufacturers and importers, the issue of poor quality, non-medical face masks, would finally be resolved.
