Malaysia Issues Proposals to Label Feeding Bottles and Teats

On March 2, 2018, the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated Malaysia’s proposal to amend Regulation 27A ‘Prohibited feeding bottles’ under Food Regulations 1985. If adopted, it will introduce several alterations to the regulation, including the requirement to provide certain information and use specific language on the labels for feeding bottles and teats.

Proposed alterations include:
• Replacing the title in the regulations
• Providing a completely new definition for feeding bottles and teats
• Requiring feeding bottles and teats to be labeled with instructions for cleaning and sterilization, and additional information (see below)
• Labels on feeding bottles or teats that are sold separately are prohibited from containing the following:
o A picture, graphic or text suggesting a similarity of the product with a mother’s breast, pictures or graphics of infants or parts of infants or other persons, and
o Information promoting or advertising another product

In addition to the labeling requirements relating to cleaning and sterilization, the bottle must also display specific sentences:

• Feeding Bottles - scale mark and the words ‘PENGGUANN BOTOL SUSU BOLEH MENJEJAS PENYUSUAN SUSU IBU’ (‘the use of baby bottles can affect breastfeeding’)
• Teats that are sold separately from feeding bottles - shelf life of teat and the words ‘PENGGUNAAN PUTTING SUSU BOLEH MENJEJAS PENYUSUAN SUSU IBU’ (‘the use of teats can affect breastfeeding’)

Stakeholders were given until April 30, 2018, to make comments on the proposal. SGS is suggesting stakeholders now check their products are compliant with the latest regulations in force in Malaysia.

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products/juvenile-products-and-childcare-articles]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Malaysia Proposes Labeling Requirements for Feeding Bottles and Teats SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/04/safeguards-05618-malaysia-proposes-labeling-requirements-for-feeding-bottles-and-teats]

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For further information contact:

Hing Wo Tsang Ph.D
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

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SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

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