1. Competent authority
Competent authority | Responsibility |
Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) | MOPH is responsible for the oversight of public health in Thailand. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a department subordinated to MOPH, which regulates imports of processed food, whose key responsibility is to ensure that businesses comply with the Thai food laws and regulations. It takes charge of the issuance of manufacturing licenses or import licenses, advertising licenses, etc. |
MOAC is responsible for the administration of agricultural products. Its subordinated departments respectively supervise the segmented sectors, for example: Department of Livestock Development (DLD): responsible for formulating regulations on meat and meat products. Department of Fisheries (DOF) responsible for formulating regulations on fresh and processed aquatic products. Department of Agriculture (DOA): responsible for formulating regulations on crops and farm mechanization. | |
Thai Customs is responsible for examining food imported into and exported from Thailand and determining whether the food products comply with the Customs Act and other relevant provisions. |
2. Market access approval
2.1Supervision towards different types of food
According to the Food Act B.E. 2522, food can be classified into the following four categories, which are subject to different levels of supervision.
Food category | Supervision measures | Scope |
Specifically-controlled foods | Product registration is required. In addition, the product should conform to the legal provisions regarding standard quality, specifications, packaging, and labeling requirements, as well as other aspects of good manufacturing practices. | High-risk food e.g. food for weight control, modified milk for infants and modified milk of uniform formula for infants and children, food for infants and food of uniform formula for infants and small children, supplementary food for infants and young children, food additives, enzymes used in food production, cleaning or sanitizing products for food, hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp seed protein and food products containing hemp seeds, hemp seed oil or hemp seed protein, food products containing certain parts of cannabis or hemp, and food products containing cannabidiol extracts. |
Standardized foods | Product owners are directly responsible for the product compliance. Foods produced under this category must adhere to quality standards as defined in the regulations. This category was created to standardize the production of locally produced food from small-scale and household industries for consumers to differentiate such products by qualitative attributes, and for encouraging food producers on attaining hygienic quality of their products. | Medium-risk food e.g. food supplements, royal jelly and royal jelly products, cow’ s milk, flavored milk, other milk products, fermented milk, ice cream, food in hermetically sealed container, beverages in sealed container, chocolate, vitamin fortified rice, edible salt, electrolyte drinks, tea, coffee, soybean milk in sealed container, mineral water, certain kinds of sauces, food seasoning derived from hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean protein, fish sauce, vinegar, edible oils and fats, fish oils, butter oil, margarine, blends, fat spreads and blended fat spreads, cream, cheese, semi-processed food, honey, jam, jelly and marmalade in sealed container, ghee, butter, alkaline-preserved eggs, tea infusion, brine for cooking, drinking water in a sealed container, and ice. |
Foods required to bear standardized labels | Product owners are directly responsible for the product compliance as well. This category is less restricted than the first two categories, as foods under this category pose lower risk to consumers’ health and does not have to follow specific quality standards for manufacturing. However, products must bear standardized labels that provide consumer information. | Medium-risk food e.g. husked rice flour, prepared gelatin dessert and jelly, irradiated food, sauces in a sealed container, flavoring agents, bread, chewing gums and candies, ready-to-cook food and ready-to-eat food, special purposed food, meat products and food derived from genetically modified organisms. |
General foods | Registrations are not required, but general food products are controlled and monitored from the perspectives of hygiene, safety, labeling and advertisements. | Raw, cooked, preserved, non-preserved, processed, and non-processed foods that are not listed in the above categories. e.g.animals and animal products, plants and plant products, extracts or synthetic substances, nutrients, flour and flour products, premixed food for ready-to-cook products, seasoning, sugar, and spices. |
2.2 Import permit
According to Food Act B.E. 2522, importers are required to obtain an import license to import food for sale in Thailand. Enterprises can submit the application online. However, before using the application system for the first time, enterprises should submit relevant documents to open an account. Please check TFDA FAQ for more information.
2.3 Good Manufacturing Practice certification
Thailand FDA requires 66 types of food products to be produced according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Therefore, enterprises also need to present a GMP or “free sale” certificate to prove that the products imported meet Thailand regulations.
2.4 Inspection & quarantine
All imported food will be inspected at the border. Agricultural products like meat, aquatic products, etc. are subject to quarantine as well. If the inspection or analysis result showcase that the products fail to meet Thailand’s standards, these products will be returned or destroyed.
3. Product compliance
Imported food should comply with relevant law, regulations and standards in Thailand. Food Act is the fundamental law of Thailand’s regulation framework. MOPH notifications/announcements specify more detailed requirements for specific food products. The following table lists some key regulations of food industry.
Please contact ChemLinked for the compliance requirements of specific products.
4. Label
MOPH Notification No. 367 BE 2557 (2014) Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods and MOPH Notification No. 401 (B.E. 2562(2019)) Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods No. 3 are the major references for the labeling requirements for prepacked food. According to the two regulations, the labeling content should be in Thai and include the following items:
Name of the food
Food serial number
Name and address of the manufacturer/packers/importers
Food content in metric system
Ingredient list (in descending orders by weight)
Allergenic substances
Functional class titles of food additives together with specific names or with International Numbering System (INS)
Text of “natural imitation odor added”, “artificial flavor added”, “natural flavor added” or “natural imitation flavor added” if such situation happens.
Shelf life
Warning statement (if any)
Storage condition (if any)
In terms of nutrition labeling, enterprises should refer to MOPH Notification No. 392 (B.E. 2561 (2018)) Re: Nutrition Labeling No.3 for the detailed requirements. In Thailand, nutrition labeling is mandatory for the following food products:
Food with have nutrition claim.
Foods which utilize food value in sales promotion.
Foods which target specific consumer groups in sales promotion.
Other foods subject to notification by Food and Drug Administration
* Global Food Compliance Service
We provide various market entry services to help stakeholders better understand exporting requirements, establish business and secure a competitive place to facilitate trade development.
Covered Countries
China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand etc.
Our Services
Food Ingredient Review
Label Review
Product Registration
Regulatory Consultation
Monitoring, Training and customized report
Please feel free to contact us via food@chemlinked.com if you need any help.
