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 three times. 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 to take over the registration of mills except sawmill from Forests Department. In 2022, STIDC Ordinance 1973 was again amended to enhance STIDC’s role as the central authority for regulating and facilitating the timber industry in Sarawak. The amendments empower STIDC to issue Timber Industry Licences for all types of mills including sawmill, introduce provisions for Temporary Permit, strengthen enforcement powers with penalties for illegal operations, and allow the General Manager to suspend or cancel licences when necessary. These changes streamline licensing and regulatory functions under one agency, which creates greater ease of doing business and ensuring compliance with legality requirements, while supporting the State’s PCDS 2030 goal of modernizing the timber industry, enhancing governance, and driving it towards a value-added, export-oriented sector with a target export value of RM8 billion.
>>The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance, 1973
THE SARAWAK TIMBER INDUSTRY (LICENSING) REGULATIONS, 2025
The Sarawak Timber Industry (Licensing) Regulations, 2025, made under section 24 of the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance, 1973 [Ord. No. 3/73] (as amended in 2022), establishes a comprehensive legal framework to regulate issuance of Timber Industry Licence and Temporary Permit in accordance with Section 5A of the STIDC Ordinance 1973. This Regulations reinforces STIDC and Sarawak’s commitment to ensuring sustainable, transparent, and responsible governance of timber resources while strengthening compliance and accountability across the sector. In line with Sarawak’s aspiration under the Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030), the Regulations serves as an enabling mechanism to transform the timber industry into a high-value, technology-driven, and environmentally sustainable sector. This Regulations came into force on 3rd of March 2025 and published in the Sarawak Government Gazette on .
>>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.
