BUTTERWORTH, Aug 28 – The Penang Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) Department ordered 251 metric tonnes of timber worth RM203,726 originating from Latvia to be returned to the country of origin.
Penang’s Maqis said in a statement that all the timber was detained and not allowed to enter the country after a routine inspection discovered the fungus Trichoderma sp. on the logs (in containers at the Butterworth terminal).
“The inspection by Maqis found Trichoderma sp fungus on White Birch Logs (Betula Pendula) in 10 containers that were destined to be brought into the country before all 251 metric tonnes of the logs were ordered to returned to the country of origin.
“Control of pests and diseases such as wood fungus is important to ensure that the country’s agricultural industry is preserved, especially involving farm crops and others,” according to the statement.
To protect the agricultural industry, the importation of any agricultural product, plants, animals, carcasses, fish, soil and microorganisms that have pests is an offence under Section 14 of the Malaysian Services and Inspection Act 2011 (Act 728).
