Thailand Updates the Regulations for Genetically Modified Foods and Its Labeling Requirements

New GMFs other than those listed in Annex 1 of MOPH Notification No. 431 must undergo safety evaluation before importing into, selling in, and manufacturing in Thailand. It is not allowed to indicate “Free from Genetically Modified Food”, “Non Genetically Modified Food” or other similar expressions on the food package.

On June 7, 2022, Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) unveiled the notification No. 431 Re: Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms¹ and No. 432 Re: Labeling of Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms². These two notifications will be implemented on Dec. 4, 2022.

No. 431 Re: Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms

MOPH notification No. 431 specifies the definition, quality standards and safety evaluation standards of genetically modified food (hereinafter GMF). Annex 1 of the notification lists the genetically modified plants that have passed food safety assessment in Thailand. New GMFs not included in Annex 1 must be evaluated by risk assessment agencies designated by Thai FDA. Otherwise, they cannot be imported into, manufactured in, or sold in Thailand.

Genetically modified plant such as Pink Pineapple will be subject to more stringent supervision in Thailand. On June 4, 2022, deputy secretary general of Thai FDA revealed that genetically modified fruit and vegetables (including Pink Pineapple) had been deemed as prohibited food. They must undergo safety evaluation for importation or selling³.

No. 432 Re: Labeling of Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms

This regulation details the labeling requirements for genetically modified food in Thailand. Apart from conforming to Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E. 2557 (2014) Re: Labeling of Food in Containers, corresponding information should be indicated based on different situations:

1）For food whose ingredient contains more than 5% genetically modified composition sourced from plant or animal, or genetically modified substances/protein is detected:

“Genetically Modified” should be marked even though the food product is made from single ingredient.
“Genetically Modified” should be indicated nearby the product name.
For genetically modified plant (animal) product, it should be indicated as “[food name/product name] sourced from Genetically Modified [plant (animal) variety]”.

2） For Genetically Modified Organism:

“Genetically Modified” should be indicated even though the product is made from single ingredient.
“Genetically Modified” should be indicated nearby the product name.
For genetically modified organism product, it should be indicated as “[food name/product name] sourced from Genetically Modified [organism variety]”

Additionally, it is prohibited from using the statement such as “Free from Genetically Modified Food”, “Non Genetically Modified Food”, “Do Not Contain Constituents of Genetically Modified Food”, “Segregated Genetically Modified Constituent” or any other similar expressions on the food package.

These two notifications were sought for WTO consultation in July 2019. According to Orachos Napasintuwong, Assistant Professor of Kasetsart University Department of Agricultural and Research Economics, Thailand was one of the earliest countries to use biotechnology to genetically modified foods, but remains one of the slowest in terms of implementing biosafety legislation and opening the market to GMFs⁴.