Malaysia has lifted its ban on heat-treated milk and dairy products from Germany, following China’s decision earlier this month. The move comes after Germany regained its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free status, enabling renewed trade between the two nations.
The Malaysian government has officially lifted its ban on heat-treated milk and dairy products from Germany after the European nation recovered from a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak earlier this year. This decision, announced by the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, follows a similar move by China earlier this month, signaling renewed confidence in Germany’s dairy industry.
The ban was originally implemented as a precautionary measure following an FMD outbreak in Brandenburg, Germany. However, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has now reinstated Germany’s FMD-free status, with restrictions limited to a small containment zone around the outbreak area.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) confirmed that Malaysia has approved a new veterinary certificate, allowing the resumption of dairy imports. Malaysia has been a key non-EU market for German dairy products, and this decision is expected to significantly boost trade.
Germany’s Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, expressed optimism about the decision, stating:
After China, Malaysia is the next major market that German companies can now supply with heat-treated milk and dairy products. We are continuing to work hard to ensure that other third countries join us as quickly as possible.”
Germany exported 38,587 tonnes of dairy products to Malaysia in 2023, valued at €60.9 million ($66.4 million USD). The lifting of the ban is expected to restore and potentially expand this trade volume.
Malaysian authorities emphasized that strict health and safety standards will be upheld to ensure the continued safety of imported dairy products. With Malaysia’s market reopening, Germany is now working to re-establish full trade relations with other nations that imposed restrictions.
As both countries seek to strengthen their agricultural trade ties, the decision is seen as a positive step towards stabilizing global dairy trade following recent disruptions.
