Animal Health Certification Requirement s for Import of Live Ornamental Fish 
into Malaysia 
 
1. Scope 
 
1.1 Under the Fisheries Act 1985, fish is defined as any aquatic animal or plant live, sedentary 
or not, and includes all species of finfish, crustacea, mollusc, aquatic mammals, or their eggs or spawn, fry, fingerling, spat or young, but does not include any species of otters, turtles or their eggs.   
1.2 Malaysia had gazetted and will be enforcing the Fisheries (Fish Disease Control 
Compliance for Exports and Imports) Regulations  2012, Fisheries Act 1985. The requirements 
for imported live ornamental fish under the regulation are as follows:  
a) Comply with the measures for fish disease control prescribed by the competent 
authority 
b) Source the fish from culture system approved by the competent authority of the 
exporting country 
c) Include the original fish health certificate issued by the competent authority of the 
exporting country  
 
1.3 With regard to paragraph 1.2 (c), health certificates are required for every shipment of 
ornamental fish imported into Malaysia which are either susceptible
1 or can act as vector to 
the following disease(s):  
No. Disease Susceptible 
species  
 Species which shall 
be regarded as 
vectors  
 
i. Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) 
 As listed in OIE 
Aquatic Animal Health Code - 
ii. Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) 
 As listed in OIE 
Aquatic Animal 
Health Code  - 
iii. Epizootic ulcerative syndrome 
(EUS) 
 As listed in OIE 
Aquatic Animal 
Health Code  - 
iv. Epizootic haematopoietic 
necrosis (EHN) 
 As listed in OIE 
Aquatic Animal 
Health Code  Goldfish (Carassius 
auratus ), koi carp 
(Cyprinus carpio ) 
 
v. Furunculosis ( Aeromonas 
Salmonicida ) 
 Goldfish (Carassius 
auratus ) 
 - 
vi. White spot disease (WSD) 
(White Spot Syndrome virus WSSV) 
 As listed in OIE 
Aquatic Animal 
Health Code  - 
 
  
                                                 
1 A susceptible species is a species of aquatic animal in which infection has been demonstrated by natural 
causes or by experimental exposures to the disease agent that mimics the natural pathways for infection as 
defined by OIE. 1.4 Irrespective of paragraph 1.3, health certificates are required for every shipment of marine 
ornamental fish imported into Malaysia.  
 
2. Documentation 
The importation shall be accompanied by an original  copy of health certificate issued by the 
competent authority (CA) of the exporting country  in English, and providing information on the 
following: 
 2.1 Consignment details
 
i. Name and address of the aquaculture establishment  
ii. Country, zone or compartment and place of origin 
iii. Date of the shipment iv. Name of the exporting country v. Name and address of the consignor  vi. Name of the competent authority of the exporting country 
vii. Country of destination 
viii. Name and address of the consignee  
 
2.2 Identification of the animals
 
i. Species: Scientific name and common name 
ii. Quantity (in pieces) 
iii. Total number of packages 
 
2.3 Health Information  
 
2.3.1 Health attestation that the fish in the consignment are free from the diseases listed 
under paragraph 1.2 as follows: 
 
2.3.1.1 The fish originate from a country,z one or compartment, farm or an area or an 
aquaculture establishment that has been subject to  an official fish health surveillance system 
equivalent to the relevant OIE standard and is officially recognized (by the CA of the country) 
as being free from Spring viraemia of carp (SVC)*, Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV)*, Epizootic 
ulcerative syndrome (EUS)*, Epizootic haemat opoietic necrosis (EHN)* and White spot 
disease (WSD)* and any emerging diseases.   2.3.1.2 For Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)*, there is absence of clinical signs. 
 
2.3.1.3 The fish have been examined within seven (7) days before loading and found to be healthy and free from any clinical signs of disease  2.3.1.4 The fish have not been kept in water in common with koi carp
2or farmed foodfish (fish 
farmed for human consumption including recreational fishing).  
 
* Keep as appropriate for the susceptible species    
 
     
                                                 
2 Except in the case of export of koi carp. 2.3.2 Additional health requirements for consignment(s) containing marine ornamental fish: 
 2.3.2.1 The fish are not sourced from a population associated with any significant infectious 
disease or pests and there have not been any unusual or substantial outbreaks of infectious 
fish disease or pests in the areas from which the fish have been collected during the 6 months prior to collection.   2.3.2.2 The fish were collected from an area at least five (5) kilometers from any foodfish aquaculture operation and the fish in the consignment have not come into contact with water, 
equipment or fish associated with farmed foodfish (fish farmed for human consumption 
including recreational fishing). 
 2.3.2.3 The fish are wild caught and have not been bred or hatched on a farm or other premises. 
 
2.3.3 The aforementioned health certificate may be drawn up taking reference from the model certificate of the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE and shall include the following: 
i. The certificate reference number on every page ii. Name, address, official position, date, signature and official stamp of the CA 
  
3. Labeling of consignments 
3.1 The consignment is identified by a legible label on the exterior of every packing bag or 
container with the following information:  3.1.1 Name of aquaculture establishment  
 
3.1.2 Name of consignee