1. Definition & classification
According to the Food Category System (Annex II of MOPH Notification No. 418 Re: Prescribing the Principle, Conditions, Methods, and Proportion of Food Additives), meat and meat products in Thailand includes all types of meat, poultry, game products, and edible insects. Its subcategories are:
1) Fresh meat, poultry, game and edible insects
2) Processed meat, poultry, game and edible insect products in whole pieces or cuts
3) Processed comminuted meat, poultry, game and edible insect products
4) Edible casings
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 Livestock Development (DLD) | Subordinated to Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), responsible for formulating regulations on animal diseases, animal slaughter, import and export management of fresh meat and meat products, as well as the monitoring, supervision, and inspection of fresh meat |
Ministry of Commerce | Formulating relevant regulations based on trade agreements between countries and regions |
Thai Customs Department | Customs clearance inspection of imported meat and meat products |
3. Market access approval
3.1 Import permit at state level
Thailand Division of Veterinary Inspection and Quarantine stipulates that all fresh meat exported to Thailand shall from countries/regions accredited by DLD. DLD has published the List of countries and production enterprises certified to export livestock products to Thailand, which includes the approved countries, permitted production sites of corresponding meat categories.
If the country is not included in the positive list, then the competent authority of the exporting country shall submit a formal application to DLD. DLD will then conduct a series of technical review on the country’s hygiene and food safety management through questionnaire and on-site inspection. Afterwards, DLD will deliver the final results. Please check the details in A Brief Procedure for the Import of Live Animals and/or Animal Products into the Kingdom of Thailand.
3.2 Health certificate
Health certificate is required for exporting meat and meat products to Thailand, which demonstrates that the products conform to the import requirements agreed by both Thailand and the exporting country.
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 6007-2005: Chicken Meat
5. Label
For the prepackaged meat 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. In addition, some meat products are subject to additional requirements specified in Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 243) B.E. 2544 (2001) Re: Some Meat Products. The following items should be indicated for meat balls, sausages, fermented pork, minced pork, Chinese sausages, and products which are made by the similar process and packed in containers ready for sale:
(1) Name of food
(2) Food serial number
(3) Name and address of producers or re-packers of food produced within Thailand; names and addresses of the importers and the country of producers, as the case may be.
(4) Net quantity
(5) Declaration of “Utilize preservatives”, if any
(6) Manufacture date and shelf life.
* Global Food Compliance Service
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