PUTRAJAYA, Aug 11 — Malaysia has joined the Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit (APFRAS) to strengthen its role in transforming food safety governance through digitalisation at the regional level.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Cabinet formally approved the country's membership during its meeting on June 12.
"Malaysia's participation in APFRAS further strengthens the country's role as a Smart Gatekeeper at the regional level.
"Malaysia is set to lead the digital transformation of food safety governance, regulate the use of biodegradable packaging materials, and harmonise the legislative framework for new food innovations," he said.
Dr Dzulkefly was speaking at the membership signing ceremony, held in conjunction with the opening of the 2026 Food Safety Conference, themed "New Innovations and Technologies – Challenges or Opportunities?" today.
He added that the move to join APFRAS will directly support the National Food Safety Policy and the National Food Security Policy, and is a critical step to address the significant increase in the country's food imports, which surged 85 per cent over a decade from RM42.6 billion in 2013 to RM78.9 billion in 2023.
"This means that a large proportion of the food consumed by Malaysians today passes through long, complex global supply chains spanning multiple national borders," Dr Dzulkefly said.
To address the complexities of global food supply chains, the Health Ministry is actively exploring modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to enhance safety monitoring and control efficiency at the country's entry points.
The two-day conference, organised by the Food Safety and Quality Programme, brought together over 300 participants to address food safety challenges and risks, evidence-based controls, and innovation and technology over time.
