Thailand Unveils New Standards of Food Plastic Containers

On June 18, Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) unveiled the Notification No. 435 Qualities/Standards of Containers Made from Plastics. It replaced MOPH notification No. 295 with immediate effect.

The key points of the regulation are summarized as follows:

• It stipulates the definition of food-grade containers, plastic containers, and containers made from recycled plastic.

• Types and quality standards of plastic containers are specified. Containers made of plastic should not have any pathogens or harmful substances that may affect health. In case the container is colored, the pigment must be of the highest quality for food contact grade and shall not contaminate the food.

• Plastic containers used for dairy products should be made from polyethylene, ethylene 1-alkene copolymerized resin, polypropylene, polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate. Under this item, dairy products refer to fermented milk, modified milk for infants, flavored milk and cream, but milk and milk products in powder and dry form are excluded.

• Attachment I of the notification includes the plastic containers’ overall migration limits, specific migration limits, migration amount of metal, and primary aromatic amines limits. Attachment II stipulates the quality and standards of plastic materials.

Please read MOPH Notification No. 435 B.E. 2022 Re: Determination of Quality or Standards of Plastic Containers for more details. Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need any translation services.