Malaysia ships first rubber under EUDR compliance scheme

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia has officially launched the export of natural rubber (NR) certified under a national scheme to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The first shipment of Malaysian Sustainable Natural Rubber (MSNR) to the EU was marked by 12 Dec ceremony, led by minister of plantation and commodities YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

The MSNR scheme “demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to meeting international sustainability demands and regulatory compliance,” said a 13 Dec release from the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB).

Under the MSNR regulatory scheme, sustainability recognition is granted to license and permit holders of the MRB to ensure the sustainability of NR – including alignment with national agri-commodity policy.

To be enforced from 1 Jan 2025, MSNR is based on five main principles: No deforestation; Rubber cultivation regulated by national land code; Environmental sustainability; Social compliance; and Traceability of supply-chain

In July, MRB initiated an extensive programme of MSNR assessments on smallholders and license holders via face-to-face surveys and gathering information on the geolocation of rubber plantations.

A digital platform, called MSNR Trace System, was also developed to trace the NR supply-chain, towards ensuring transparency and accountability in rubber production.

This system “plays a crucial role in addressing environmental and social issues within the industry by enabling stakeholders to trace raw rubber transactions from the plantation to the final product,” said MRB.

“With innovative technologies and initiatives such as MSNR, Malaysia is poised to become a global leader in the production of high-quality sustainable rubber,” concluded the statement.

See also: Brussels must ‘come and see’ EUDR compliance efforts