KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is studying a mechanism to blacklist companies and importers that repeatedly violate laws on illegal electronic waste (e-waste), while also outlining the way forward for electric vehicle (EV) battery management.
In a written reply published on Parliament’s website, NRES said proposals to strengthen enforcement against repeat offenders, including the blacklisting mechanism, were being studied by the Department of Environment (DOE), which is currently drafting Phase 2(b) amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127).
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“The measure aims to strengthen environmental governance and enforcement while addressing emerging challenges, including environmental crimes and the illegal importation of e-waste, and taking into account the suitability of the relevant legal provisions,” the ministry said.
NRES was responding to a question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) on proposed amendments to the law to include specific provisions for blacklisting companies and importers involved in illegal e-waste activities.
The ministry said enforcement agencies inspected 1,241 containers between 2021 and 2025, of which 701 were found to contain e-waste and subsequently seized, while 428 were returned to their countries of origin.
Responding to a question from Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN-Merbok) on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism for EV batteries, NRES said the mandatory requirement for manufacturers to take back end-of-life batteries and bear the disposal costs had yet to be finalised.
NRES said implementing a mandatory EPR mechanism would require further study, particularly regarding its legal and financial implications, as well as policy co-ordination with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
The ministry also said the Department of Standards Malaysia, together with the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), was developing the MS 2818: Battery Passport for Electrified Vehicle standard, the first of its kind in ASEAN, to digitally record and track a battery’s entire life cycle.
DOE records showed that 13,743.15 tonnes of battery waste classified under scheduled waste code SW103 were generated nationwide between 2021 and 2025. The ministry added that the figure covered all types of battery waste and was not limited to EV batteries.
NRES said seven off-site recovery facilities for SW103 waste were operating in Kedah, Selangor, Johor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, processing used batteries to recover valuable materials, including lithium, nickel and cobalt.