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FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY DIVISION  
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA  
 
Guideline  on importation of ceramic ware  intended to be used in the 
preparation, packaging, storage, delivery or exposure of food for human consumption 
 
1.0  Purpose : 
The purpose of this gui deline is to provide guidance on the importation of ceramic 
ware intended to be used in the preparation, packaging, storage, delivery or exposure of food for human consumption, in compliance with Regulation 28, Food Regulations 1985.   
  2.0 Definition  
For the purpose of this guideline, “c eramic ware” refers to ceramic ware intended to 
be used in the preparation, packaging, storage, delivery or exposure of food for human consumption . 
  3.0   Food Legislation in Malaysia  
The legislatio n for control and inspection of ceramic ware in Malaysia is provided by:  
(1) Food Act 1983 (Act 281)  
(2) Food Regulations 1985 (Regulation 28 Ceramic ware)  
 The importation of any ceramic ware which does not comply with the provision of this 
act and regulations is prohibited.  
 Soft copy of the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 is available on the 
following webpage: - 
 
http://fsq.moh.gov.my  or http://fsis2.moh.gov.my/fosimv2  
  4.0  Requirements a ccording to Regulation 28 Ceramic ware, Food 
Regulations 1985  
 The requirements for ceramic ware are prescribed under Regulation 28, Food 
Regulations 1985 (FR 1985) . Ceramic ware shall be tested according to the test 
method in the Malaysian Standard (MS) p rescribed under the FR 1985 and Table II 
of the Thirteenth Schedule of the regulations . These Malaysian Standards may be 
purchased online at the following address - 
http://www.msonline.gov.my  
   
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 4.1  Types  of cer amic ware  
 
For the purpose of chemical and physical standard, ceramic ware is divided 
into two types  based on its internal depth; flatware and hollow -ware. Hollow -
ware is further divided into two sub- categories based on its capacity. The type 
of ceramic w are will determine the maximum limit for lead and cadmium 
release d into food or food simulant  as in Section 3.2 below .  
 
Description  Type of ceramic ware  Description  
 
 
 
 
 
Hollow -ware  
Means articles with 
internal depth  
> 25mm . 2 types of 
hollow ware -   
 Small hollow -
ware - capacity of < 
1.1L. E.g. -   
• Cups, mugs  
• Small bowl / pot 
 
Large hollow -ware  
- capacity of ≥1.1L. 
E.g.- 
• bowl 
• pot  
  
  
 
 
Flat ware  
Means articles with 
internal depth ≤ 
25mm. E.g.-  
• Serving plate  
• Tray 
• saucers  
 
 4.2 Release of lead and cadmium  
Ceramic ware shall be  tested in accordance with Malaysian Standard MS ISO 
6486- 1, Ceramic ware, glass c eramic ware and glass dinnerware in contact 
with food – Release of lead and cadmium –  Part 1: Test method and the 
amount of lead and cadmium released from the ceramic ware shall  not 
exceed the maximum permitted proportion as specified in Table I of the Thirteenth Schedule of the Food Regulations 1985 as follows - 
 
TABLE I  
MAXIMUM PERMITTED PROPORTION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM RELEASE  
 
Type of ceramic ware  Unit Lead  Cadmium  
Flat ware  mg/dm2 0.8 0.07 
Small hollow -ware  mg/l 2.0 0.20 
Large hollow -ware  mg/l 1.0 0.20 
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 4.3  Other requirements for ceramic tableware  
 Ceramic ware shall also be tested for its physical characteristics according to 
the test method in Annex A, B and C of Malaysian Standard MS 1817: 
Ceramic Tableware – Specification  and comply with the requirements as 
follows - 
 
TABLE II  
OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR CERAMIC WARE  
 
 
Parameter  Requirement   
Test method  
 Category A  Category B  
Earthenware  Stoneware  
Water absorption, %  Not more 
than 0.4  Not less than 
3.0 and not 
more than 7.0  Not more 
than 3.0  
Refer to 
Annex A, B 
and C of MS 
1817 
 Thermal shock, 0C 160 160 
Chipping resistance, J:  
         Plate > 220 mm in diameter  0.25 - 
         Plate ≤ 220 mm in diameter  0.18 - 
         Cup/mug/bowl (with lip)  0.10 - 
         Cup/mug/bowl (without lip ) 0.12 - 
Crazing  None of the test pieces show crazing  
 
 
NOTE:   
Conversion factor: J = ft -lbf x 1.3558; ft -lbf = J x 0.73756  
 
Note:  
Please note there’s an editorial error on the test method for the physical test prescribed in 
Table II of the Thirteenth Schedule, Food Regulations 1985. It should be MS 1817, not MS 
ISO 6486- 1. Amendment to the regulation is in progress.     
 
4.4  Labelling requirements for ceramic tableware  
 Ceramic ware shall be clearly and permanently marked with the following  
informati on-  
 
a) the name, trademark or any other means of identifyi ng the manufacturer or 
supplier  
b) the country of origin; and  
c) any of the following classification:  
i) bone china;  
ii) porcelain;  
iii) vitrified china;  
iv) earthenware;  
v) stoneware; or  
vi) any other classification of ceramic tableware including hotelware and  
terracotta.  
d) the words ‘for food contact’, or the symbol below as in Table III of the 
Thirteenth Schedule, Food Regulations 1985  
 
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 TABLE III  
FOR FOOD CONTACT SYMBOL  
 
 
The information shall be in –  
(a) Bahasa Malaysia for ceram ic ware prepared or manufactured in Malaysia,  
(b) Bahasa Malaysia or English for imported ceramic ware, and  
(c) in either case (a) or (b) may include translation thereof in any other language  
 
 5.0 Importation Procedures  
Ministry of Health Mal aysia is imposing Health Certificate  requirement for importation 
of ceramic ware intended to be used in the preparation, packaging, storage, delivery or exposure of food for human consumption. A valid Health Certificate issued by the 
Competent Authority (C A) of the exporting country  for every consignment shall be 
made available to the Authorized Health Officer at the entry point,  upon request, 
once C ustom declaration is made.   Health Certificate  
 The Health Certificate shall contain the following attestation or any other words of  
similar meaning:  
 
"This is to certify that the above mentioned consignment is free from lead and 
cadmium release / contains lead and cadmium release not exceeding the maximum 
permitted proportion and complies with the physical characteristics requirem ents as 
stipulated by Regulation 28 (ceramic ware) of the Malaysian Food Regulations 
1985".  
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 The consignment shall be rejected by the Authorized Health Officer at the entry point  
on one of these criteria:  Rejection  
 
i)  The consignment is not ac companied with a Health Certificate.  
 ii) The consignment is accompanied with a Health Certificate which is not issued by the CA of the exporting country.  
 iii)    The consignment is accompanied with a Health Certificate which does not contain the required attestation or any other words of  similar meaning .  
 
If the ceramic ware is imported to be used for other purposes besides food- ware, the 
importer/forwarding agent shall present a declaration letter to the Medical Officer of 
Health (MOH) in charge of the entry point for further action. In this case, Authorized 
Health Officer at the entry point  may release the consignment on the basis of “not 
applicable” to the required controls as stipulated under Regulatio n 28 of the Food 
Regulations 1985.   Ceramic ware for other purposes besides food- ware  
 
However, if it is found that the ceramic ware is used as food- ware through monitoring  
activities undertaken by Authorized Health Officer at the local market, enforcement 
action shall be taken.  
 
The relevant tariff codes involved in this measure are as follows:  Tariff codes  for ceramic  ware involved   
 
HS Code  Descriptions  
69.11         Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and 
toilet articles, of porcelain or china  
6911  .10 000 Tableware and kitchenware       
6912 .00 000 Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles 
and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china.       
 
AHTN Code  Descriptions  
69.11         Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and 
toilet articles, of porcelain or china  
6911  .10 0000  Tableware and kitchenware       
6912 .00 0000 Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles 
and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china.       
 
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 6.0 ENQUIRIES  
 
Kindly direct any  enquiries to:  
 
Senior Director  of Food Safety & Quality  
Ministry of Health Malaysia  
Level 3, Block E7, Complex E  
Federal Government Administration Centre  
62590 Putrajaya Malaysia 
Tel: 603- 8883 3888 Fax : 03-8889 3815/3341  
Email: fsq-division@moh.gov.my  
Website  : http://fsq.moh.gov.my