1. Definition & classification
In this article, aquatic products refer to fish and fish products. According to the Food Category System (Annex II of MOPH Notification No. 418 Re: Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods, and Proportion of Food Additives), fish and fish products in Thailand includes aquatic vertebrates, aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Its subcategories are:
1) Fresh fish and fish products
2) Processed fish and fish products
3) Semi-preserved fish and fish products
4) Fully-preserved, including canned fish and fish products
2. Competent authority
Competent authority | Responsibility |
Thailand Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) | Formulating relevant regulations, as well as the monitoring, supervision, and inspection of meat products |
Department of Fisheries (DOF) | Subordinated to Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), responsible for formulating regulations on aquatic animal diseases, aquatic animal fishing, import and export management of live and fresh aquatic products and processed aquatic products, as well as the monitoring, supervising and inspection of live and fresh aquatic products |
Ministry of Commerce | Formulating relevant regulations based on trade agreements between countries and regions |
Thai Customs Department | Customs clearance inspection of imported aquatic products |
3. Market access approval
3.1 Species negative list
To protect endangered aquatic animal and the overall ecosystem, MOAC specified Aquatic Organisms Prohibited from Import, Export or Transshipment in Thailand, which identifies aquatic animals that are not allowed to be imported into Thailand. The prohibited list is regularly updated by Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).
3.2 Import permit
Importers should obtain permit by submitting a series of documents for importing aquatic products to Thailand. Please refer to The Regulations, Procedures and Conditions for Applying for Import Permits for Aquatic Animals or Aquatic Animal Products B.E.2560 for the documents required.
3.3 Importer registration
According to Food Act B.E. 2522, food importers with a company based in Thailand should obtain an import license for the food categories to import and register for the serial number from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) themselves. Apart from that, importers should also register with the Thai Customs for the customs clearance procedures.
3.4 Inspection & quarantine
According to Animal Epidemics Act, B.E. 2558, inspection and quarantine is required for meat and meat products so as to control the epidemics.
4. Product compliance
The compliance of meat and meat products involves pesticides, veterinary drug, contaminant, toxins, microorganism and food additives. Please refer to the regulations below for details.
Items | Key regulations |
Pesticides residue | Notification of Ministry of Public Health Notification (No. 387) B.E.2560 (2017) Re: Food Containing Pesticide Residues (Pesticide Residues in Food) Amendments: Food Containing Pesticide Residues (Pesticide Residues in Food) (No. 2) Food Containing Pesticide Residues (Pesticide Residues in Food) (No. 3). |
Veterinary drug residue | |
Contaminant & Toxins | |
Microorganism | |
Food additives |
In addition, there are some voluntary requirements for fresh meat:
(1) TAS 9023-2021: General Principles of Food Hygiene: Good Hygiene Practices
(2) TAS 9007-2005: Safety Requirements for Agricultural Commodity and Food
(3) TAS 7429(G)-2016: Guidance for Good Aquaculture Practices for Marine Finfish Farm
(4) TAS 7429-2016: Good Aquaculture Practices for Marine Finfish Farm
(5) TAS 7420-2009: Good Hygienic Practices for Pre-Processing of Fishery Products
(6) TAS 7014-2005: Quick Frozen Fish Fillets
5. Label
For the prepackaged aquatic products, basically, their labeling should comply to Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E.2557 (2014) Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods and its amendments. Except under exceptional circumstances, the basic information includes food name, ingredients, net weight, manufacturer or importer information, food serial number, date and allergen information, etc.
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