Maqis’ role ensures food safety and biosecurity, and animal quarantine is important to guarantee the safety and well-being of the country.
LIVE animal quarantine means isolating animals, fish or poultry that may carry infectious diseases from other animals or humans for a certain period of time.
The isolation ensures that the animal is free from diseases that could pose a health risk to humans, other animals or fish, or the country’s ecosystem.
In Malaysia, this responsibility falls on the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis), which monitors plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural products, soil, microorganisms, premises, transporters or any other agricultural and agro-food commodities entering the country.
It quarantines and inspects any plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural products, soil, microorganisms, premises, transporters or any other agricultural and agro-food commodities at the entrance.
It also runs quarantine stations and premises to ensure the risk of entry of disease, pests or contaminants is minimised and the compliance of any plants, animals and carcasses are met.
Fish, agricultural products, soil, and microorganisms with import and export conditions as stated in the permit, licence or certificate fall under section 9(a), Act 728.
Quarantine locations
Maqis manages five quarantine stations located at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Selangor; Batu Maung, Penang; Rantau Panjang, Kelantan; Padang Besar, Perlis; and Labuan.
It can also declare any premises as a quarantine premise just to hold and inspect the various plants, animals, agricultural products, soil and more, under Section 9(g) of Act 728.
In August this year, Maqis has 217 quarantine premises throughout the country, with 125 for fish and 92 for animals with Selangor having the most of these premises.
From January to September, the quarantine division recorded as many as 34,374 animals were held at quarantine stations and premises that have been approved by the department.
Controlling diseases
Throughout the quarantine period, the department’s quarantine division works closely with the policy-making departments to ensure that no dangerous diseases are overlooked in the quarantine process.
Some of the detected diseases include foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.
All animals infected with these diseases would need to be isolated with legal action taken against the provider, as set by the Maqis director-general based on Act 728 to protect public health and the country’s agricultural industry.
Maqis ensures that only animals that are completely free of any disease, whether zoonotic or non-zoonotic, are allowed to leave after the end of the quarantine period.
This step is part of the department’s efforts to ensure optimal biosecurity control in the interest of the country.
The department is currently developing a modern and higher standard facility called the Integrated Biosecurity Centre (IBC) at the KLIA Quarantine Station to strengthen the effectiveness of quarantine activities.
The centre will involve a comprehensive upgrade of the existing KLIA quarantine station and is expected to be fully completed in 2027.
In addition, the department is also participating in the digitalisation trend through its Maqis Digital Platform Project, which also involves digitalising the quarantine activities.
It will simplify services, such as the booking of quarantine space at stations and quarantine premises process and improve operational efficiency.
Quarantine benefits
Quarantine protects the welfare of domestic animals and local livestock by ensuring imported animals do not carry diseases from where they were originally from that can be transmitted to domestic animals or local livestock.
This step is important to maintain farm animals’ health and prevent large losses to local farmers due to deaths or diseases that affect animal productivity.
Quarantined animals and products are also checked for zoonotic diseases that may affect the health of those exposed to them, either through contact or as food.
Through quarantine, Maqis helps reduce the risk of infection in the community.
Furthermore, as a country actively involved in international trade, Malaysia ensures compliance with international standards set by organisations, such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
This move allows Malaysian products to compete in the global market without being embargoed by other countries.
Quarantine also protects the country’s biodiversity by preventing the entry of invasive species that can damage local ecosystems.
Foreign plants or animals pose a threat to indigenous species and affect the balance of the environment.
The quarantine process helps control the entry of foreign species and protect Malaysia’s biodiversity.
Maqis’ role ensures food safety and biosecurity, and animal quarantine is important to guarantee the safety and well-being of the country.
Through strict inspection and quarantine measures, Malaysia can maintain the stability of the agricultural and plantation industry, protect public health and strengthen the national economy.
Animal quarantine not only protects the people and livestock but also ensures that the country complies with international standards, which is important for Malaysia’s trade growth.
