Last update: 13 November 2024

 

1. What is a registered drug?

A registered drug is a drug that is approved by the Drug Control Authority (DCA) for sale/use in Malaysia. This drug has been evaluated and tested for its efficacy and safety. Every registered drug is given a registration number, which must be printed on its label or package. These numbers start with MAL. Example of a registration number is: MAL19976399X

 

2. What needs to be registered?
   a. Pharmaceutical products containing scheduled poisons.
   b. Pharmaceutical products containing non-scheduled poisons (OTC)
        Includes:
         + Medicated plaster with medicines
         + Antiseptic/ Disinfectants for use on the human body
         + Diagnostic agents for human use (in vivo)
         + Dietary supplement e.g. Probiotics, Chitosan

   c. Traditional products
        Includes:
         + Homeopathic medicines
         + Ayurvedic medicines
         + Medicated plaster
         + Herbal teas
         + Dietary supplements eg. Spirulina, Chlorella, Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen, Aloe Vera juice, Noni juice, Extract of chicken with herbs

d. Veterinary products
     Includes: Oral solution, oral suspension, emulsion
      + Granules
      + Paste
      + Water soluble powder
      + Injectable
      + Powder for injection
      + Oral powders
      + Capsule, tablet
      + Topical ophtalmic and otic products
* Guidance Decision Tree

 

4. What is the procedure for the registration of pharmaceutical products?

Product registration can be submitted online via Quest system. An applicant must apply for a Quest membership and purchase a USB Token before they can proceed with registration. Once the applicant has received the USB Token, he/she will be able to enter the registration site and proceed with online submission.

The summary of the online registration procedure for products are as follows:-

1) Go to NPRA website (www.npra.gov.my) > Industry > First Time User > Register USB Token.

2) Apply for QUEST Membership.
     * Requirements :
            i. Company Registration Form
            ii. Company Authorization Letter
            iii. Photocopy of I/C

3) Upon Quest membership approval, purchase USB Token from MSC Trustgate.

4) Login Quest to submit product registration application.

5) Submit data requested. 

6) Correspond with NPRA officer if additional data is needed.

7) Products tabled to DCA meeting

5. What is the fee for drug registration?

Please refer to the latest version of the Drug Registration Guidance Document (DRGD).

 
6. What is the next step to take after my product is registered?
After a product is registered, the applicant must apply for a manufacturer/ import/ wholesale license.

 

7. What is the evaluation timeline for product registration?

Please refer to the latest version of the Drug Registration Guidance Document (DRGD).

8. What are the criteria for drug registration?
A product will be registered only if it satisfies ALL the requirements of the DCA, especially with respect to safety, efficacy and quality of the products. Other criteria taken into consideration are:-
    i. Whether that product is needed or not. Aspects like potential of abuse, number of registered products, different dosage forms, etc. are considered.
    ii. Therapeutic effect.

9. Is all the information declared in the registration form confidential?
Yes, confidentiality of data is assured.

10. Can unregistered medicines for personal use be brought into Malaysia?
Under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, the requirements for drug registration does not apply to a person who arrives in Malaysia and imports, as part of his personal luggage, any product for his use or his family's use, in a quantity that does not exceed one month's use by one person.

11. Can I amend the label/ formula of my product after it is registered?
Yes, an application to amend the particulars of a registered product can be made through Quest online submission. This information can be found in FORMS TRAY under VARIATION menu. All changes / amendments requires prior approval from NPRA before it can be implemented. The approval and decision will be notified on-line. Formulation of a product cannot be altered if the change of active is involved. In this case, new application must be made.

 

12. How can an overseas company register and distribute its product in Malaysia?
All pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Drug Control Authority before it can be marketed in Malaysia. A foreign company wishing to bring pharmaceutical products into Malaysia would first have to appoint a local agent (a company registered in Malaysia) to be the holder of the registration certificate. The appointed agent would then be responsible for all matters pertaining to the registration of the products.
There are specific forms to complete during the process of registration and under the labeling requirements for products registered with the Drug Control Authority, the name and address of the actual manufacturer must be declared on the label.

13. Do cosmetics need to be registered?
Effective 1st January 2008, the online registration procedure for all cosmetics products has been replaced with the online notification procedure. Companies intending to market new cosmetic products must notify NPRA before placing the products in the local market. Please refer to this link for more information on guidelines for control of cosmetic products in Malaysia.

14. What is the definition of "cosmetic"?
A cosmetic product shall mean "any substance or preparation intended to be places in contact with various external part of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips, and external genital organs) or with teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance and/or correcting body odours and/or protecting them or keeping them in good condition".

 

15. What is a traditional medicine?

A Traditional Medicine means any product employed in the practice of indigenous medicine, whereby the drugs used consist of one or more naturally occurring substances of plant, animal or mineral or part thereof, or in extracted form or non-extracted form, and any homeopathic medicine.
(Indigenous Medicine - means a system of treatment and prevention of diseases involving the traditional use of naturally occurring substances.)

16. What are the quality requirements for Traditional Medicines?
Traditional medicines are subjected to the following tests:-
  + Test for contamination of heavy metals:-

          Mercury - 0.5 ppm
          Arsenic - 5.0 ppm
          Lead - 10 ppm
          Cadmium - 0.3 ppm

  + Test for microbial contamination
  + Disintegration test for tablet and capsule

17. How are homeopathic medicines controlled in Malaysia?
Homeopathic medicine means any drug in a pharmaceutical dosage form that is used in the homeopathic therapeutic system in which diseases are treated by the use of minute amounts of such substance which is capable of producing in healthy persons symptoms similar to those of the disease being treated.
Homeopathic medicines in finished dosage forms have to be registered with the Drug Control Authority before they can be imported and sold in the country. A foreign company wishing to bring such products into Malaysia has to appoint a local agent to be the holder of the registration certificate. The appointed agent will be responsible for all matters pertaining to the registration of the products.

18. How do I report on ADR?
If it is suspected that a patient has suffered an adverse reaction to a traditional medicine, it should be reported to the Malaysian Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee either through its Website, through the ADR reporting form or even by a letter. All information on the name of the remedy, its ingredients and source (if known) should be included. In order to facilitate better assessment and to allow further action to be taken, when necessary please include the label/packing material of the product where possible. If it is suspected that the product is contaminated with some other medicines such as steroids, painkillers, hypoglycemic agents etc., please include a sample of the product to enable analysis to be performed.

19. What should I do if my contract manufacturer license is revoked?
A contract manufacturer's license may be revoked due to closure or suspension of premise. Your product registration will not be cancelled, however you will need to apply a change of manufacturing site form in order to continue the validity of your products. This is covered under Change of Manufacturing Site type V (which also includes circumstances like natural disasters or matters related to breach of product quality, safety and efficacy). Approval from NPRA is required prior to implementation of change Please fill up the Borang BPFK 415.3[NMJ1] to proceed with the change of manufacturing site..For further information please browse our Guidelines on Requirements for change of manufacturing site [NMJ2].

 

20. Security Label (Hologram)

The new hologram security label supply will be implemented by Techno Secure Print Sdn Bhd Company starting 1 September 2019 and the price of the hologram security label will be RM0.064 / label unit.

Hologram security label reservations can be made to Techno Secure Print Sdn. Bhd. effective 1 September 2019 and the duration of the supply of hologram security labels to the industry is 14 days from the date of order.

For your information, Techno Secure Print Sdn. Bhd. is holding a training session on the use of the label buying system for all hologram security label users. You can contact the company about the training schedule and for the hologram security label purchase process.

Click for details: NEW HOLOGRAM SECURITY LABEL PRICES INFORMATION

No	Question	Answer
1.	Which regulation covers the implementation of mandatory security labeling?	As provided under Regulation 8(1) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
2.	What types of products that required security labeling?	The requirement for the affixation of this security device to product labels, is applicable to all registered pharmaceuticals products, traditional Products and health supplements. All products without security labeling will be considered as unregistered products.
3.	(i) Where is the security label to be affixed?                                 (ii) What about products that are meant to be supplied to hospitals and to be used by doctors or nurses for their patients (e.g. injections, TPN, etc.)?	(i) The security label shall be affixed onto the outer carton (secondary packaging) of the product. Where there is no outer carton, the security label shall be affixed on the immediate label.  The security label shall not be affixed onto the outer shrink wrap. The security label shall cover none of the product particulars on the immediate label.  The customer purchasing a product should be able to locate the security label without having to open the packaging. For large volume parenteral products (LVP) defined as containers labelled as containing more than 100mL [based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP)], the security label shall be affixed on the immediate label of each unit of the product. On the other hand, it is sufficient for the security label to be affixed to the outer carton / unit of sale for small volume parenteral (SVP) products [defined as packaged in containers and labelled as containing 100mL or less [based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP)]. For example: For a SVP product with 10 bottles packed into one box as the unit of sale, this requires only one hologram to be affixed to the outer carton of the box and not on each bottle. This applies to all registered units of sale for that one product, where one hologram is required to be affixed to the outer carton of the box of 5’s, 10’s, 20’s, 50’s, or 100’s.  For a SVP product that does not have any outer carton, the hologram is then required to be affixed to the immediate label of the bottle or primary container as stated in the Drug Registration Guidance Document (DRGD).     (ii) All products that are meant to be supplied to hospitals and to be used by doctors and nurses for their patients should also be affixed with security label.
4.	Where should the security label be affixed for promotional packs containing 2 or more items?	Each individual item that is a product registered with the DCA will have to bear the security label.
5.	If manufacturers and importers packed and sold their products in a box of one dozen to their dealers, must they apply the security label onto the box of one dozen or on each individual pack/bottle? What about products to be sold in loose form (strips, blisters, sachets, loose tablet, etc.)?	The security label is to be affixed to each immediate label of individual unit of sale. It is, however, not required that each blister strip be affixed with a security label. The unit of sale for blister/strip/sachet packed products would be the outer carton or packs of 4's, 8's, 10's or 20's that they are packed in.
6.	Are registered importers allowed to send the security labels to their manufacturers who are located outside Malaysia?	Yes, the labels can be sent to the overseas manufacturer and the product is then imported fully labelled. The importer to whom the labels have been sold will remain the responsible party.
7.	Who is supposed to buy and apply the security label if both principals and distributors are companies in Malaysia as well as registered with NPRA?	The company that is on record with the DCA as the importer for a particular product will be the party responsible for the security labels on the product in question. Even if the registered importer outsources the actual process of stickering the labels onto the physical stock to another agent, the importer will still be accountable. SOP's for the labelling procedure, including documentation and reconciliation records should be maintained.
8.	How detailed should the security label reconciliation record be?	Reconciliation records should be as required under GMP requirements as for any other type of product label.
9.	When will DCA begin inspection or enforcement on the use of the labels? (At point of entry, imported products without hologram would be a hassle to the enforcement officers regarding its authenticity.)	Enforcement will be at the point of sale (retailers and wholesalers), and can begin any time after implementation. Enforcement will not be carried out at the point of entry. However, in cases where the imported products are brought in without security label, the importers are responsible to ensure such of imported products should be labelled with security label prior to distribution of such products. The implementation will be in 2 phases, with the 1st phase for all non-injectable products starting 1st May 2005. All non-injectables which are imported or manufactured on or after 1st May 2005 should carry the security label. The 2nd phase of implementation for parenteral preparations will begin 1st July 2005.
10.	Are registered importers and manufacturers of cosmetic products allowed to purchase and apply security label onto their products?	Currently the requirement for security label does not apply to cosmetics. It is NOT recommended that cosmetic products carry the security label as it may lead to confusion.
11.	If manufacturers and importers are unable to get sufficient stocks, can they be allowed to sell their products without the label?	NO, all products manufactured and imported after the stated implementation date(s) will need to bear the label. Forecast of orders for the security labels are needed by the supplier to understand requirement needs. As demand is dynamic, the information supplied is vital to ensure adequate stocks are kept to fulfill customer orders.
12.	Will registered manufacturers and importers be liable if their assigned security label (serial number) is found in unregistered products? What happens if they are caught distributing unregistered products? Who would be charged? The importers or the product holders?	There are security features, both overt (visible) and covert (hidden) that can be used for verification of label authenticity. The security labels supplied to registered importers and manufacturers will carry unique serialised numbers. As such each label can be traced to its "owner". If genuine security labels are found on unregistered products, the owner would definitely have some explanations to do.
13.	Who can buy the security labels (hologram)?	Only licensed manufacturers and importers of pharmaceutical, traditional medicine and health supplement products can purchase the labels. The local manufacturer, the packer/repacker for products imported in bulk and packed/repacked locally, or the importer shall be responsible for affixing the security label (hologram) onto the individual unit packs.
14.	What is the penalty for those who fail to implement the security label?	Any person who contravenes this requirement will be fined as follow:- 1st time: not exceeding RM 25, 000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.  2nd time: not exceeding RM 25, 000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both. Where as any body corporate that found guilty will be charged as follow:- 1st time: not exceeding RM 50, 000. 2nd time: not exceeding RM 100, 000.
15.	How do I ensure an authentic purchase of security labels?	The distributor authorized by the Government to supply the security label is Techno Secure Print Sdn Bhd. Should more information be required on the technical and supply aspects, please contact Techno Secure Print Sdn Bhd.
16.	What happens if a registered product is affixed with an authentic security label that is owned by another company?	The product may be categorised as an unregistered product and both the product registration holder (PRH) and hologram owner may be penalised.

 

Syarikat	: Techno Secure Print Sdn Bhd
Alamat	: No. SD30, Jalan KIP 10, Kawasan Perindustrian Kepong, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Waktu operasi	: Isnin - Jumaat: 8.30am - 5.30pm
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Talian Khidmat Pelanggan	: 03-6274 6550 / 9550 / 2550 016-298 8708 / 8062
No. Fax	: 03-6274 7550