- Timber importers in Malaysia now have access to an environmentally sustainable fumigation treatment.
- End-to-end fumigation between Malaysia and countries that have registered EDN®, including Australia and New Zealand, is now possible.
- Decision is an opportunity for an industry which is estimated to have imported more than $1 billion USD of timber each year since 2023 to reduce environmental impact.
International Treatment Solutions (INTRESO) Group has welcomed the decision by Malaysia’s Department of Agriculture to add Ethanedinitrile (EDN®) as an approved phytosanitary treatment under its timber import permit (IP) system.
The Government of Malaysia’s decision to add EDN® to the IP system opens up a new trade corridor for forestry and wood products between Malaysia and other nations which have approved EDN®, such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Uruguay and Turkey. This enables end-to-end with a sustainable fumigation solution across Asia and the Pacific.
Malaysia has committed to capping its use of methyl bromide – an ozone-depleting substance banned under the 1987 Montreal Protocol – at 100 tonnes per year. By comparison, EDN® is a cost-competitive proprietary fumigation solution that offers a powerful and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional fumigants. It can be used without limits in Malaysia.
The decision to add EDN® to the IP system marks a significant step towards making environmentally sustainable treatments available. Malaysia is investing in growing its port infrastructure and trade in commodities, in particular through the expansion of Port Klang, already the world’s 11th busiest port. As such, alternative, environmentally sustainable solutions like EDN® are urgently needed. Data suggests annual timber imports to Malaysia have risen to more than $1billion US Dollars in value since 2023. The ambition to expand Malaysia’s ports mean this figure is only set to grow in the years ahead.
With this approval, timber and wood products treated with EDN® can now be imported into Malaysia, giving the forestry and logistics industries the ability to choose a safer, more environmentally sustainable treatment option.
Commenting on the decision, Kade McConville, Executive Director at INTRESO Group said, “Malaysia has recognised EDN® offers a safe, effective, and sustainable solution to the problems posed by legacy products, which harm both applicators. This is a major milestone in the commercialisation of our next-generation products and I look forward to working with our customers to incorporate EDN® into their operations. This is not only a win for the timber industry, but also for the environment and port workers.”
