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MDA rules tracker · Last verified 9 August 2026

MDA latest rules and announcements — 2026, dated and sourced.

Every consequential MDA Malaysia change this year in one list: what it says, when it bites, and what a device business should do about it. Each entry links to the official MDA source. We track this because our own licences run on the same rules.

Last verified against the official MDA portal: 9 August 2026. This page is updated whenever MDA publishes a consequential change.

August 2026 · UPCOMING

Hologram Security Label (HSL) for registered medical devices

MDA will roll out a hologram security label for registered medical devices in phases, prioritising retail diagnostics (pulse oximeters, glucose and blood-pressure monitors) and high-risk implantables (pacemakers, heart valves, defibrillators, stents). Full implementation details are scheduled to be announced at the International Medical Device Exhibition and Conference on 26 August 2026.

What to do: If you supply retail diagnostic or implantable devices, budget for label integration and watch the 26 August announcement for timelines. The scheme mirrors the FarmaTag hologram used for pharmaceuticals since 2005.

Official source: MDA press release

1 August 2026 · IN FORCE

Product classification applications are now fully online

From 1 August 2026 all product classification applications must be submitted through MDA’s online Product Classification Application System — the previous Google Form route is closed, and approval letters are now issued by email only (no more hard copies).

What to do: Route new classification requests through the online system and make sure the applicant email address is monitored — the official classification letter arrives there. Enquiries: classification@mda.gov.my / 03-8230 0376.

Official source: MDA announcement

10 July 2026 · IN FORCE

Automated re-registration route introduced in MeDC@St 2.0+

MDA’s Pre-Market Control Division announced an automated re-registration route in MeDC@St 2.0+ on 10 July 2026, designed to streamline market access and keep registered devices in continuous supply across the 5-year renewal cycle.

What to do: If registrations in your portfolio expire soon, check whether they qualify for the automated route before preparing a conventional re-registration dossier — it can materially shorten renewal work.

Official source: MDA announcement

1 July – 30 September 2026 · IN FORCE

Malaysia–China Joint Evaluation Pilot Programme, Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Malaysia–China joint evaluation pilot runs from 1 July to 30 September 2026, continuing regulatory cooperation on device evaluation between MDA and China’s NMPA.

What to do: Manufacturers with Chinese approvals or China market plans should watch this pilot — joint evaluation pathways can shorten time-to-market in both directions.

Official source: MDA announcement

Q2–Q3 2026 · UPCOMING

MeDC@St 3.0 rollout — establishment licensing, registration, CAB and change management go next-gen

MeDC@St 3.0, MDA’s ~RM20 million rebuild of its online application system, launches its core modules in stages through Q2–Q3 2026 — Phase 1 digitalises establishment licensing, product registration, CAB applications and change management, with nine new modules including AI-assisted processing, cloud infrastructure and a chatbot.

What to do: Expect submission workflows to change as modules cut over. The new UDI guidance and the GD/0072 change-management regime are both timed to this launch — see the entries below.

Official source: MDA news

19 May 2026 · PUBLISHED · NOT YET IN FORCE

MDA/GD/0072 — Change Management for Registered Medical Devices (1st edition)

MDA published the first edition of MDA/GD/0072, a risk-based framework for assessing, documenting and reporting post-registration changes — but it is not yet in force: MDA/GD/0020 (Change Notification) continues to apply until MeDC@St 3.0 launches.

What to do: Keep filing change notifications under GD/0020 for now, but map your change-control SOP against GD/0072 today so the switch is a form change, not a system change.

Official source: MDA announcement

1 May 2026 · IN FORCE

Joint announcement: MDA and Thai FDA regulatory cooperation

MDA and the Thai Food and Drug Administration issued a joint announcement on 1 May 2026 on medical device regulatory cooperation between the two ASEAN authorities.

What to do: Exporters covering both markets should watch for reliance or work-sharing pathways emerging from this cooperation — one dossier serving two ASEAN submissions is the direction of travel.

Official source: MDA announcement

March 2026 · IN FORCE

Three guidance documents revised or introduced

MDA published a second edition of “Definition of Medical Devices” (MDA/GD/0006), a third edition of the special-access exemption guidance for unregistered devices (MDA/GD/0043), and a first-edition guidance on confirmation of obsolete and discontinued devices (MDA/GD/0071) in March 2026.

What to do: Re-check borderline products against the new GD/0006 definitions, and use GD/0071 if you need formal confirmation that a legacy device is obsolete or discontinued — it now has a defined route.

Official source: MDA announcements

28 January 2026 · IN FORCE

Circular No. 1/2026 — establishment licence now compulsory for tender participation

Under Circular Letter No. 1/2026, in force since 28 January 2026, every tenderer must hold a valid MDA establishment licence before participating in any new tender for medical devices — non-compliance is an offence under Section 15 of Act 737. Transitional exemptions cover tenders awarded, LOAs received, or tender advertisements issued before 28 January 2026, until the existing contract or tender activity ends.

What to do: If you bid for hospital or government supply contracts without an establishment licence, you are now locked out of new tenders. Licensing takes months — start before the next tender cycle, not after it opens.

Official source: MDA implementation notice (5 March 2026)

Why we publish this

AA Alive holds its own MDA establishment licence (MDA-6798-K124) and runs the same GDPMD system it builds for clients, so every rule above lands on our desk before it lands on this page. If one of these changes affects your licence, registration or tender eligibility, the fix is usually cheaper before the deadline than after it.

Jawapan ringkas · Bahasa Malaysia

Apa peraturan terbaru MDA pada 2026?

Antara perubahan utama MDA 2026: lesen establishmen kini wajib untuk menyertai tender peranti perubatan (Pekeliling Bil. 1/2026, berkuat kuasa 28 Januari 2026); permohonan klasifikasi produk kini sepenuhnya dalam talian (mulai 1 Ogos 2026); MeDC@St 3.0 sedang dilancarkan berperingkat; dan label keselamatan hologram akan diperkenalkan secara berfasa. Perlukan bantuan pematuhan? WhatsApp kami di 010-206 2070.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an establishment licence to join a hospital tender in Malaysia?
Yes. Since 28 January 2026, Circular Letter No. 1/2026 makes a valid MDA establishment licence compulsory for every tenderer before participating in any new medical device tender, under Section 15 of the Medical Device Act 2012 (Act 737). Transitional exemptions only cover tenders awarded, letters of acceptance received, or tender advertisements issued before that date, and only until the existing contract or tender activity ends.
Is MDA/GD/0072 change management in force yet?
No. MDA/GD/0072 (Change Management for Registered Medical Devices, 1st edition) was published on 19 May 2026 but takes effect only when MeDC@St 3.0 launches. Until then, change notifications continue under MDA/GD/0020. Use the interim period to map your change-control SOP to the new framework.
When does MeDC@St 3.0 launch?
MDA is rolling out MeDC@St 3.0 core modules in stages through Q2–Q3 2026. Phase 1 digitalises establishment licensing, product registration, CAB applications and change management. The new UDI guidance and the GD/0072 change-management regime are timed to this launch.
How do I apply for product classification now?
Fully online. From 1 August 2026 all product classification applications go through MDA’s online Product Classification Application System — the Google Form route is closed and classification letters are emailed rather than posted. If you are unsure whether your product is even a medical device under the new GD/0006 second edition, we can classify it for you.
What is the hologram security label?
A phased MDA initiative to put a verifiable hologram label on registered medical devices, starting with retail diagnostics (pulse oximeters, glucose and blood-pressure monitors) and high-risk implantables. It mirrors the FarmaTag hologram used on pharmaceuticals since 2005. Full implementation details are due to be announced on 26 August 2026.

A rule above just changed your obligations?

Tell us which one — tender licensing, re-registration, classification or change management — and we will map exactly what your company must file, by when, at a published price.