The issues and challenges in complying with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in exporting Malaysian fruits

Normaz Wana Ismail; Arizal Arshad

The issues and challenges in complying with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in exporting Malaysian fruits

2020

Normaz Wana Ismail | Arizal Arshad

The main objective of this study was to identify the issues and challenges faced by Malaysian fruit producers and exporters in complying with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures of the importing countries. Due to these measures, the exportation of high-value tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, durian and starfruit to countries with strict SPS measures such as Australia, China, Japan and European Union are subjected to additional export requirements such as a single pre-export phytosanitary treatment on fruits or multiple measures applied at critical points along the fruit supply chain. Apart from the increase in exportation cost, phytosanitary treatments could reduce fruit quality and shelf life when fruits are exposed to certain fumigants and high or low temperatures as required in the import conditions. Suitable SPS measures are needed to ensure that fruit quality for export was not affected whilst achieving appropriate level of protection against movement of pest and disease of concern. Export stakeholders must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to undertake effective SPS measures on their produces. The approval of market access into Japan and China for mango, pineapple and durian in recent times proved that the Malaysian fruit producers are competent in complying with the SPS requirements of these countries. This study showed that the lack of proper coordination and information exchange among related government departments and agencies would make it more difficult for Malaysian tropical fruits to penetrate new markets with stringent SPS measures.

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