Deadline for language and disclosure rules on marketplaces postponed, say eCommerce players

Over the weekend, eCommerce sellers were given an updated notification by platforms in Malaysia such as Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop about the requirement to comply with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living's (KPDN)'s new policy, the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024 (CPETTR 2024), which has been in force since 25 December 2024. 

The announcements on the platforms' seller pages, which were updated on 20 and 21 June 2025 as seen by A+M, said that the previously communicated deadline of 24 June 2025 is no longer applicable, and currently under review, or postponed. Shopee said in an announcement on its website to sellers: "We will provide an updated compliance timeline once it is confirmed".

Based on the information shared by the three platforms, sellers were instructed to clearly display and disclose their company or business name, business registration number (SSM), email address, telephone number, and business address on their online stores or marketplace profiles. 

They are also required to have all product titles, descriptions, and seller information displayed in Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language), but additional translations in other languages may be included. Sellers must also provide valid product certifications for products which are subject to safety or health standards, ensuring that they are displayed on the product pages as proof of compliance. 

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Shopee and Lazada also shared on their website that while sellers are advised under the CPETTR to use the national language for their listings, they will be rolling out an in-app AI translation feature to help sellers auto-translate their product descriptions to Bahasa Malaysia. 

All three platforms, including TikTok Shop, have also advised sellers to update their details in the seller centres, use Malay in their listings, and provide valid product certifications where applicable in the product description pages. Products which require certifications include electronic appliances, telecommunications devices, health supplements, cosmetics and skincare, food products, and more.  Penalties for non-compliance with the CPETTR, will result in sellers' product listings getting delisted or locked, racking up 48 violation points, and enforcement actions by KPDN.

For individual sellers, first-time offenders could face a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both; while subsequent offences will result in a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. For corporate entities, a first offence will lead to a fine of up to RM100,000, while subsequent offences will result in a fine of up to RM200,000.

When reached out to by A+M, Lazada Malaysia said in a media statement that it is committed to building a safe, transparent and trustworthy eCommerce ecosystem for consumers, sellers and partners. "We continuously update and comply with current legal regulations, and are working to comply with the CPETTR 2024, introduced by KPDN, including the preparation of guidance materials and specific support mechanisms for sellers to ensure they understand and fulfill the requirements once they are in effect."

Lazada Malaysia added that it is proactively coordinating with KPDN to highlight key matters relating to the implementation of the regulations and to explore avenues for enhancing their effectiveness. "Lazada is committed to accompanying sellers throughout this transition, providing clear, transparent information and addressing any questions related to the regulations," the eCommerce platform added. 

In light of this enforcement notification which resurfaced ahead of the impending deadline, eCommerce sellers in Malaysia took to Reddit last week to discuss the regulation, with some users sharing that there was zero news on the regulation itself prior to the platforms' announcements. Some even called the ruling "One step forward, five steps backwards", and others called it inconvenient as they would have to list their personal home addresses in the sellers' information section if they are individual sellers without an office base. 

One user on the thread r/Bolehland said: "The rule has been there for ages. I'm actually surprised that it took them this long to enforce this". Over on a number of Facebook groups, several users have also called the enforcement "mengarut" ('nonsense'), and "betul-betul menyusahkan orang" ('really inconveniencing us'). 

Meanwhile, Sarawak Tribune reported that amid mounting pressure from the eCommerce community, KPDN's enforcement director Azman Adam said the enforcement of the CPETTR regulation has been deferred until further notice.

It also reported that the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Youth Branch questioned KPDN's move to require all product names and descriptions on e-commerce platforms to be written solely in Malay. Bong Siak Ping, secretary of SUPP Youth Kuching said, that the policy is a rushed decision, and inconsiderate to small online businesses. 

He said, as quoted by the news outlet, that many sellers on the eCommerce platforms are scrambling to adapt, and foreign sellers are also struggling with the language barrier, causing widespread confusion. Bong also highlighted that the new regulation was announced with less than a week's notice, and came without clear implementation guidelines or tools. 

Bong said that the government's insistence on using Malay exclusively on eCommerce platforms would hurt business competitiveness, as eCommerce is inherently international and predominantly conducted in English. 

A+M has reached out to Shopee and TikTok Shop for more information. 

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