Controller of Undesirable Publications (CUP)
Section A) HS Codes and Product Codes for Publications
Section B) HS Codes and Product Codes for Recorded Sound Media
Section C) CUP Exempted Categories
Section A) HS Codes and Product Codes for Publications
(for exempted categories, please refer to Section C)
HS CODE/DESCRIPTION
49019910
(Educational, technical,
scientific, historical or
cultural books)
49019990
(Printed books other than
educational, technical,
scientific, historical or
cultural books, e.g.
children’s and legal books)
PRODUCT
CODE
CUPBOKEXE
CUPBOKNEX
CUPBOKMIX
CUPBOKUNK
CUPCOMMAS
CUPCOMFOR
CUPNEWOFF
CUPNEWMAS
CUPNEWFOR
49021000
(Newspapers, journals and
periodicals appearing at
least four times a week)
49029000
(Newspapers, journals and
periodicals appearing at
other intervals)
CUPMAGEXE
CUPMAGNEX
CUPMAGUNK
CUPMAGMIX
CUPMAGMAS
CUPMAGSIN
CUPCOMMAS
CUPCOMFOR
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
UNIT
Books under CUP exempted categories
Books that are not under the exempted
categories
Mixed consignment of books under the
exempted and non-exempted categories
Books with unknown content
Comics published/printed in Malaysia that
are in book form
NMB
Comics imported from countries other
than Malaysia that are in book form
Offshore newspapers include the Wall
Street Journal Asia, Financial Times,
Newsweek, South China Morning Post,
Sunday Morning Post, The Economist,
TIME and Yazhou Zhoukan
Newspapers from Malaysia
Foreign newspapers other than Malaysia
and offshore newspapers.
Magazines under CUP exempted
categories
Magazines that are not under the
exempted categories
Magazines with unknown content
Mixed consignment of magazines under
the exempted and non-exempted
categories
Publications published/printed in Malaysia
excluding comics, newspapers and books
Publications published in Singapore but
printed outside Singapore and Malaysia.
Comics published/printed in Malaysia that
are in magazine form
Comics imported from countries other
than Malaysia that are in magazine form
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
NMB
Section B) Recorded Sound Media
HS CODE/
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION
CODE
85232919
(Sound recorded magnetic
tapes of a width not
exceeding 4 mm)
85232929
(Other sound recorded
magnetic tapes of a width
exceeding 4 mm but not
exceeding 6.5 mm)
85232939
(Other sound recorded
magnetic tapes of a width
exceeding 6.5 mm)
85234013
(Optical discs for
reproducing sound only)
85238040
(Gramophone records)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
UNIT
CUPAUDEXE
Audio materials under CUP exempted
categories
NMB
CUPAUDNEX
Audio materials that are not under the
exempted categories
NMB
CUPAUDUNK
CUPAUDMIX
CUPAUDLAN
Audio materials with unknown content
Mixed consignment of audio materials
under the exempted and non-exempted
categories
Audio materials by languages other than
English and Mandarin/Dialect
NMB
NMB
NMB
Section C) Exempted Categories
Importers of publications may make their own decisions on the exempted publication
categories and distribute thereafter. Importers have to ensure that the publications do not
feature contents that may be objectionable on moral, racial or religious grounds or are
detrimental to national interests. The exempted categories for publications are:
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Architecture/Interior Design
Art
Brochures
Business, Finance and Marketing - Publications on economics, management,
business, sales and marketing, accounting and investment, law, banking and
advertising
Children's Books - includes comics approved by the Comics Code Authority
Computing/Programming - Architecture, hardware, operating systems
Culture - Anthropology, sociology, archaeology, ethnic studies
Family Concerns - Marriage and divorce, family life and therapy, child psychology,
parenting, death
Fantasy
Fine Art - Painting, drawing, graphic design, commercial art
Hobbies - Publications on craft work, word games, gardening, pet rearing,
cooking
Inspirational Books - Self-improvement books with a spiritual aspect e.g. books
on yoga, meditation
Movie Publications
Medicine and Health - Diet, health, nutrition, exercise and fitness
Nature - Publications on science, wildlife
Non-Game Sports - Sports involving the exchanging of blows and sparring such
as boxing, wrestling, martial arts
Parent/Child Development/Pregnancy - Parental guides, books on pre and post
natal care, child development and upbringing
Performing Arts - Dance and drama
Philosophy