SIRIM Certification in Malaysia: A Practical Guide for Importers

"SIRIM certification" usually means one of two approvals

Importers often say "SIRIM" for any Malaysian product approval, but there are two separate schemes. SIRIM QAS International does the testing and certification for both, while a different regulator sits behind each one. Many products need only one; some need both.

Does my product need SIRIM certification?

Start with two questions: does it plug into a wall socket, and does it have any wireless connection? Here is how that plays out for common products:

Bluetooth mouse or keyboard

Battery powered, so no ST approval. It has Bluetooth, so it needs SIRIM-MCMC Type Approval.

Smartphone or laptop with charger

The device needs Type Approval. The wall charger in the box needs its own ST COA. Missing either can hold the whole shipment.

Smart appliance with Wi-Fi

Plugs into the mains and connects wirelessly, so it needs both: ST COA for safety and Type Approval for the radio.

Battery or USB device, no wireless

Usually exempt from both. An ST Release Letter proves this to customs so the shipment isn't detained.

Some products fall under other agencies too. Medical electrical devices go through the Medical Device Authority (MDA) instead of the standard ST route, and air conditioners and refrigeration equipment must also meet Department of Environment rules on refrigerants.

Which electrical products does the Energy Commission regulate?

The Energy Commission regulates around 34 categories of low-voltage products that connect to the mains and can be used without technical skills. Common examples:

• Power & charging: phone and laptop chargers, AC/DC adapters, power supply units, multi-plug adapters, switches and sockets
• Home appliances: fans, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, irons, hair dryers and straighteners
• Kitchen: rice cookers, kettles, blenders, microwave ovens, refrigerators
• Audio-visual: televisions, audio systems, radios
• Lighting: LED and fluorescent lamps, table and floor lamps, decorative string lights

Ten of these product types (including refrigerators, air conditioners, TVs, fans, LED lighting, washing machines and rice cookers) must also meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and carry the 1 to 5 star energy rating label, based on an accredited energy test report.

Who can apply: the local applicant rule

Neither the Energy Commission nor SIRIM accepts applications directly from overseas companies. The certificate must be held by a company registered in Malaysia with the Companies Commission (SSM) that has proper local premises, such as an office or warehouse.

Foreign manufacturers therefore have two options: set up their own Malaysian company (Sdn Bhd), or appoint a local applicant to hold the approvals for them. Zirco Communication acts as that local applicant, so you can sell in Malaysia without registering a company here. See our Service & Consultation →

Two ways to get ST-SIRIM approved

Documents to prepare

Incomplete paperwork is the most common reason applications are delayed. Expect to provide:

The ST-SIRIM process, step by step

1. Register the local applicant. The applicant registers with the Energy Commission as an importer of electrical products and receives a Certificate of Registration.
2. Submit the technical file. Company documents, specifications and test reports are submitted online for review. Products for Malaysian wall sockets must use the Type G three-pin plug (MS 589); the wrong plug is a common reason for rejection.
3. Get provisional approval and ship. Once the documents are accepted, a provisional approval lets the goods clear customs into the applicant's local warehouse.
4. Testing or factory audit. SIRIM samples and tests the shipment (BTS) or audits the factory (PCS).
5. Final COA and labels. After passing, the full Certificate of Approval is issued, usually valid for 12 months, and the ST-SIRIM label goes on every unit. The goods can then be sold.

2026 rules worth knowing

• Label on the product, not the box. The ST-SIRIM label must be on the product itself. Labels only on the retail packaging can get a shipment detained.
• Test report age depends on risk. For high-risk electrical products, safety test reports generally need to be under 5 years old. Older reports may still be accepted for low-risk products if the design hasn't changed.
• Sabah and Sarawak are separate. A Peninsular Malaysia approval doesn't automatically cover Sabah, where the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) now regulates, or Sarawak. Selling nationwide may need state-level approvals too.
• EV chargers: Mode 1 chargers aren't allowed; only Mode 2 and Mode 3 systems tested to MS IEC 61851.

Clearing customs with regulated products

Regulated goods can't be cleared like ordinary cargo. The customs declaration has to be linked to a valid approval in the e-Permit system, and the goods are usually moved to a licensed local warehouse for testing or labelling before they can be sold. Make sure invoices, packing lists and shipping documents use exactly the same product names and models as the approval. Mismatches are a frequent cause of port delays.

SIRIM certification FAQ

This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. Requirements change and depend on the exact product, so contact us to confirm what applies to yours.