Awang Tengah (second left) listening to an explanation from Khalidah on the new Sirim-EIU safety label, while (from left) Entri, Dr Rundi and others look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The mutual recognition of common safety certifications issued by Energy Commission (EC) and Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) will allow electrical appliance importers and manufacturers in Sarawak to broaden their market into Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
According to Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, the mutual recognition of common safety labels issued by both authorities was achieved through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and EC signed in November last year in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
“At the moment, the safety labels in Sarawak for imported controlled electrical appliances and the safety labels for those in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia differ as EC is the regulator for Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, whereas in Sarawak, the regulator is EIU.
“Both of these labels are issued by the same certifying body, is Sirim QAS International Sdn Bhd,” he said when launching the new Sirim-EIU safety label and controlled electrical appliance enforcement seminar in Sarawak at Imperial Hotel here yesterday.
Awang Tengah noted that to date, there were 112 importers of electrical appliances from the state that were registered with EIU, and they were required to apply for Import Permit for each consignment entering Sarawak.
“In this regard, we cooperate closely with the Royal Customs Department of Malaysia to ensure imported controlled electrical appliances issued with Import Permits meet the safety standards. We hope that the cooperation between the Royal Customs Department of Malaysia and my ministry will be further enhanced.
“I wish to emphasise that even though an MoU has been signed between EC and the state government, importers from Sarawak must still adhere to the regulations and rules specified by EC if they wish to market their products in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.”
Awang Tengah said the requirement of safety label is only applicable for domestic electrical appliances that do not require specific skills or competency to operate such as rice cookers, irons, ovens, kettles.
“This involves the safety aspects only. This safety label does not involve the performance aspect of the appliances such as energy saving or energy efficiency.”
In addition to safety aspect, he said EC had recently introduced the performance aspect for electrical appliances such as Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) on five types of products to regulate energy efficiency in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
“These five types of electrical appliances are air conditioners, lamps, fans, television sets and refrigerators. Hence, if importers from Sarawak wish to market these five types of products in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, they need to obtain the approval of EC to comply with these performance requirements.”
Meanwhile, Sirim QAS International managing director Khalidah Mustafa said in order to obtain the Sirim-EIU safety label, the importer must first obtain Technician Evaluation Report (TER) from Sirim QAS International.
“The report is produced after checking and assessment are implemented on the electrical appliance’s full evaluation report that is produced by a recognised overseas lab. With TER, then the importer will obtain Certification of Accreditation (COA) from EIU and then apply for Import Permit to import the electrical appliance.”
She said after the import of the electrical appliance, Sirim QAS International would conduct checks and test based on international standards and only the electrical appliance that passed the test would be given the Sirim-EiU safety label.
Khalidah said the confirmation and approval that is obtained could ensure the safety of the users of electrical appliances in Sarawak and this is in line with the Public Utilities Ministry’s objective to ensure that the electrical appliance usage is safe for the consumers in Sarawak.
Among those present were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.