Ordinance & Regulations
THE SARAWAK TIMBER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1973 (Incorporating all amendments up to 30th June, 2023)
The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance,1973 was introduced to provide for the establishment of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. The functions of the Corporation were laid down in Section 5(1) of the said Ordinance. Amongst others, the function are ” to regulate and control the manufacture of timber and timber products, and the sale, distribution and marketing thereof, and to set or determine the manufacturing standards and quality, and trade practises of the timber industry in Sarawak”.
The Ordinance was revised and amended twice, ie in 1999 and 2006. In 1999, amendments were made to strengthen the role of STIDC in monitoring and regulating the timber industry. In 2006 the law was again revisited and amended and this time STIDC was to take over the registration of mills except sawmill from Forests Department. The amendment to the law also saw an increase in penalty for non registration from RM2,000 to RM300,000.00.
>>The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance, 1973
THE SARAWAK TIMBER INDUSTRY (LICENSING) REGULATIONS, 2023
Kindly be informed that the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (hereinafter ‘STIDC Amendment Ordinance’) have been passed in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting on 23rd November 2022. The enforcement date of this STIDC Amendment Ordinance is on 1st June 2023.
With the deletion of the requirement for registration and the introduction of Timber Industry Licence under the STIDC Amendment Ordinance, we are currently in the process of tabling the Sarawak Timber Industry (Licensing) Regulations, 2023 which shall prescribe the forms and fees as well as the procedure for timber industry licensing application.
In the interim, the Administrative Order for Issuance of Timber Industry Licence shall govern the whole Licensing activities with effect from 1st June, 2023.
In light of the above, STIDC shall no longer issue any Certificate of Registration (Export, Import, Local Sales and Manufacturing) and Sawmill Licence. Instead, all the Certificate of Registration and Sawmill Licence shall be reissued with the new Timber Industry Licence upon its expiry.
>>The Sarawak Timber Industry (Licensing) Regulation
THE TIMBER GRADING REGULATIONS, 2008
The Timber Grading Regulations was made under Section 24 of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance,1973. It provides provisions for STIDC as Grading Authority in Sarawak. As Grading Authority, STIDC role is to protect the interests of sawn timber trade by supervising the grading works of Timber Graders. STIDC will issue grading certificate after completing check grading works on any sawn timber that requires to be graded.
The said Regulation which was introduced in 1975 was subsequently amended in 1983 and 2008.