By Daniel Yeoh · OEM Sourcing & Supply Chain Writer · Published 4 Oct 2026
Quick answer: To sell Disney-character products made in Malaysia, you need two separate approvals. First, your company needs a licence from Disney for the characters and product category. Second, the factory you use needs a Disney-signed FAMA issued for your contract and the Malaysian market. A factory cannot lend you its licence, and a FAMA held for another company’s products does not cover yours. Disney’s public facility list shows only 6 Malaysian sites, all in printing, display, lighting or assembly. That list covers only Disney’s own retail, not licensed goods, so Malaysian cosmetics, food and toiletry factories working for licensees do not appear on it. Ask any factory for its signed FAMA before you commit.
Key takeaways
- The licence and the FAMA are different things. The licence gives your brand the right to use the characters. The FAMA approves a specific factory to make the products.
- The FAMA is filed per factory, per market and per applicant, and Malaysia is its own market in Disney’s Asia-Pacific region.
- Packaging printers need approval too if they print Disney artwork on your boxes or labels.
- Only 6 Malaysian sites appear on Disney’s May 2026 facility list, and none of them makes cosmetics, food or supplements.
- For cosmetics you also need NPRA notification. A FAMA does not replace product regulation.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for Malaysian brand owners and distributors thinking about character-licensed products such as kids’ toiletries, lip balms, bath sets, snacks or gift packs. It is also for anyone comparing OEM factories that say they have Disney experience. It explains who applies for what and what documents to ask for.
How Disney licensing and factory approval work together
A Disney-branded product needs an approved company and an approved factory. Disney’s FAMA application instructions (checked 25 Sep 2026) say Disney-branded products may not be produced or handled at a facility until Disney issues a signed FAMA for that facility. The application is filed by the licensee or vendor, not by the factory on its own.
| Step | Who does it | What you end up with |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Licence | Your company, with Disney or its regional licensing team | The right to use named characters in named product categories and markets |
| 2. Choose the factory | Your company | A contract manufacturer (OEM) for the product and its packaging |
| 3. FAMA application | Your company, as licensee, naming the factory | A Disney-signed FAMA for that facility and the Malaysian market |
| 4. Labour-standards review | Disney’s International Labor Standards (ILS) team, with the factory’s audit reports | Approval or corrective actions |
| 5. Product regulation | Your company, as notification holder | For example, NPRA cosmetic notification or food labelling compliance |
Two points often surprise first-time licensees. First, printers and packaging plants that apply Disney artwork count as facilities too; blank-box suppliers do not. Second, a factory that holds a FAMA for another brand still needs a new FAMA naming your contract. A factory that already has one may get through the labour-standards review faster.
The FAMA sits alongside your normal product approvals, not in place of them. If the licensed item is a cosmetic, read how NPRA notification works with an OEM before you lock your launch date.
Which Malaysian factories are on Disney’s public list?
Six Malaysian sites appear on Disney’s May 2026 facility list on Open Supply Hub, and none of them is a cosmetics, food or supplement maker. These are the product descriptions we found, checked 25 Sep 2026:
| Facility | Location | What it does | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivar Printing Sdn Bhd | Rawang, Selangor | Book printing, folding cartons, sleeves, labels | Company website |
| Thumbprints Utd Sdn Bhd | Rawang, Selangor | Commercial and book printing, packaging, point-of-sale print | Company website |
| Classic Billboards (M) Sdn Bhd | Selangor | Outdoor advertising and display | Company name and sector |
| Moeurs Lighting Manufacture Sdn Bhd | Johor | Lighting (not confirmed) | Company name only |
| Mytech & Assembly Sdn Bhd | Senai, Johor | Not disclosed | No public record found |
| XFS Industries Sdn Bhd | Perai, Penang | Not disclosed | No public record found |
Malaysia’s short list says more about which Disney business the data covers than about Malaysian capability. Disney’s facilities list page says the list covers products for Disney’s own stores, parks, wholesale and internal use, and excludes facilities used only by licensees. Across Southeast Asia the same list has 435 sites, with Vietnam alone accounting for 252.
7-step checklist before you sign with a factory
- Confirm your licence first. No factory can supply the characters for you.
- Ask the factory for a Disney-signed FAMA it holds now, even if it’s for another brand. It shows the site has passed Disney’s labour-standards review.
- Check the address and market on that FAMA. It must be the exact plant that will make your goods, and your application must cover Malaysia and any export markets.
- List every facility that touches Disney artwork: the filling plant, carton printer, label printer and any gift-set assembler. Each one needs declaring.
- Check that the country is permitted. Disney only allows production in its Permitted Sourcing Countries, which matters if the factory subcontracts abroad.
- Plan regulation in parallel. For cosmetics, NPRA notification in your company’s name. For food, labelling and any halal claims, verified separately.
- Agree the wording rules. The factory can describe itself as a “Disney FAMA-authorised facility”. It should not use Disney characters or logos in its own marketing, or claim to be a Disney partner.
For the wider vetting steps that apply to any contract, see our guide to choosing an OEM cosmetics manufacturer in Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Malaysian OEM factory give me the right to use Disney characters?
No. Only Disney, through a licence agreement, can grant character rights. A factory’s FAMA only approves it to manufacture for a licensee or vendor. If a factory offers to “handle the Disney side” without you holding a licence, treat that as a red flag and check with Disney’s licensing team.
Is FAMA the same as a halal or GMP certificate?
No. A FAMA is Disney’s approval of a facility’s labour and compliance standards for Disney-branded goods. GMP, halal and NPRA notification are separate requirements from Malaysian regulators and certifiers. A licensed kids’ cosmetic sold in Malaysia typically needs all the relevant ones.
Why doesn’t Disney publish all approved factories?
Disney publishes the factories that make products for its own retail and wholesale businesses. Factories used only by licensees belong to independent companies’ supply chains, and Disney says they are excluded. That is why most licensed cosmetics and food factories in Malaysia can’t be found on the public list.
How long does a FAMA take?
It varies with how quickly the factory’s labour-standards audit is accepted. A site already approved for another Disney licensee usually moves faster than a first-time site. Build the approval into your launch timeline, because production cannot start before the signed FAMA arrives.
Sources and limitations
This guide draws on Disney’s FAMA application instructions, its facilities list page, its Permitted Sourcing Countries policy and ILS Program Manual, plus the Disney Facility List (May 2026) on Open Supply Hub, all accessed 25 Sep 2026. Company descriptions come from company websites or public records. We did not audit any facility. Licensing terms differ by agreement, so confirm specifics with Disney’s regional licensing team.
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 4 Oct 2026 | First published. |
About the author
Daniel Yeoh is MalaysiaOEM’s OEM Sourcing & Supply Chain Writer and Senior Editor, covering how brand owners vet and contract manufacturers in Malaysia and the region.
