EQ (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulations 1977
Updated on July 30, 2025

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EQ (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulations 1977 #

Preamble & Legislative Authority #

  • Issued under section 51 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 [Act 127], after consultation with the Environmental Quality Council.
  • Publication Date: 3 November 1977.
  • Commencement Dates: Regulation 1–2, 3(1), 5, 11–17 started on 4 November 1977; Regulations 3(2), 4, 6–10, 18 began on 1 July 1978

Regulation 1: Citation and Commencement #

  • Official title: Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm‑Oil) Regulations, 1977.
  • Specifies staggered enforcement as noted above.

Regulation 2: Interpretation #

Defines key terms such as:

  • B.O.D., B.O.D. concentration/loading
  • Effluent
  • Licence
  • Parameter
  • Prescribed premises (oil‑palm processing sites)
  • Watercourse (rivers, lakes, canals, the sea, etc.)

Regulation 3: Prescribed Periods #

  • Section 18(2)(a) license application deadline: 31 March 1978
  • Section 18(2)(c) transfer period: within 14 days of change of occupancy

Regulation 4: Change of Occupancy #

  • New occupiers must observe existing license conditions for 14 days or until their application is approved

Regulation 5: Reporting Changes #

  • Notify the Director General within 7 days of any material change in information submitted

Regulation 6: Altering Quality of Effluent #

  • No major changes affecting effluent quality or volume without written approval from the Director General.

Regulation 7: Duty to Assist #

  • Occupier must provide cooperation, labour, and instruments for DOE inspections under Section 38

Regulation 8: Dilution Prohibited #

  • Effluent cannot be diluted post-production without prior written permission.

Regulation 9: Display of Licence #

  • Licence and attachments must be displayed prominently at the premises

Regulation 10: Quarterly Returns #

  • Returns must be submitted within 14 days after each quarter (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct)
  • First return may be delayed until after first full quarter if starting mid‑quarter.

Regulation 11: Guide for Limits #

  • Standards for effluent based on Regulations 12 and 13

Regulation 12: Discharge into Watercourse #

  • Limits phased by period:
    • 1978–79: generally no limits unless imposed
    • 1979 onward: specific limits for B.O.D., C.O.D., solids, oil & grease, etc.
    • Greater or lesser limits allowed by Director General under exceptional cases.

Regulation 13: Discharge onto Land #

  • Only B.O.D. limits ordinarily imposed:
    • 1978‑79: none normally
    • From 1979: limit 5,000 mg/L, adjustable based on circumstances/research

Regulation 14: Point of Discharge #

  • Specifies physical discharge location; all parameters measured at that point.

Regulation 15: Fee for Permission #

  • $100 fee for permission under Section 19, non‑refundable

Regulation 16: Licence Fee & Renewal #

  • Base fee: $100 plus effluent‑related additional charge per Third Schedule
  • Additional amount due when called for; base fee non‑refundable

Regulation 17: Fee Waiver #

  • Possible waiver for environmental research cases, subject to Director General and Minister approval

Regulation 18: Fee for Licence Transfer #

  • Fixed fee: RM30

Schedules Attached #

  • First Schedule: Quarterly return form template (detailed fields for production and effluent data)
  • Second Schedule: Effluent parameter limits by period for watercourse discharge
    • Includes B.O.D., C.O.D., total solids, suspended solids, oil & grease, nitrogen (ammoniacal & total), pH, and temperature, with staged reductions over years
  • Third Schedule: Method for computing effluent‑related portion of licence fee
    • Based on volume discharged, minimum charge RM150 for watercourse or land discharge; detailed per‑ton structure

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