idcOnic Co., Ltd.

Import & Export from/to Thailand

Category: Regulation

Thailand Beauty Service Contract Standards: Business Implications and Compliance Priorities

June 30, 2026 /

On September 26, 2025, the Contract Committee under Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board issued the Notification on Prescribing the Beauty Service Business as a Contract-Controlled Business B.E. 2568 (2025). The regulation will take effect on January 24, 2026, and will require beauty and wellness service operators to adopt a prescribed Thai-language standard contract and comply with mandatory consumer protection requirements.

The regulation represents a material change for operators that provide service packages over a fixed number of sessions or within a defined service period. It applies across physical branches, online channels, and digital platforms. Covered services include massage, spa, facial and body skin care, beauty and cleanliness treatments, weight control, and body-shaping services. Surgery, liposuction, and medical treatments performed by licensed practitioners remain outside the scope of the notification.

Key Regulatory Requirements

  • Standard contract adoption: Operators must use the prescribed Thai-language contract form for all consumer agreements. The contract must be clear and readable, with minimum font size and character-spacing requirements, and must include all essential terms required by the annexed form.
  • Contract execution and delivery: Contracts must be prepared in duplicate, with one copy provided to the consumer upon signing. Electronic agreements must comply with the Electronic Transactions Act and include the same mandatory terms.
  • Digital platform accountability: Operators that provide services through digital platforms remain responsible for ensuring that consumers receive compliant contracts, even where the platform acts as an intermediary.
  • Restriction of unfair clauses: The regulation prohibits clauses that limit liability for harm to life, body, health, mind, or property; bind consumers to internal rules without consent; allow unilateral changes to services or fees; permit termination without notice or cause; forfeit prepayments; prohibit termination or refunds; impose blanket no-refund policies; automatically renew contracts; or misuse personal data in violation of the Personal Data Protection Act.
  • Mandatory consumer protection terms: The standard contract requires clear provisions that protect consumer rights and establish transparent service terms. Operators must incorporate the required information into their service agreements and align operational practices with those contractual obligations.

Business Implications

The new requirements will require operators to review and update contract templates, sales processes, refund practices, platform arrangements, and staff procedures before the effective date. Businesses that currently rely on verbal agreements, informal forms, inconsistent refund terms, or platform-led contracting arrangements may face higher compliance exposure.

From a management perspective, the regulation should be treated as both a compliance obligation and a customer trust initiative. Standardized contracts can reduce disputes, improve transparency, and strengthen consumer confidence, but only if contract language, frontline communication, and refund handling are implemented consistently.

Risks and Opportunities

Key risks include non-compliant contract templates, incomplete consumer documentation, inconsistent application of refund or termination rights, and inadequate oversight of digital platform transactions. These risks may result in regulatory exposure, consumer complaints, reputational impact, and operational disruption.

Key opportunities include improved customer transparency, stronger service governance, lower dispute risk, and clearer accountability across sales, operations, customer service, and platform partners. Operators that act early may also differentiate themselves through stronger consumer protection standards.

Recommended Management Actions

  • Conduct a legal and operational review of all existing consumer contract templates against the prescribed standard form.
  • Remove prohibited clauses, especially those relating to liability limitations, unilateral service changes, automatic renewal, no-refund policies, and personal data use.
  • Update electronic contracting processes to ensure compliance with the Electronic Transactions Act and the required contractual terms.
  • Review digital platform arrangements to confirm which party issues the contract and how consumer delivery evidence is maintained.
  • Train sales, customer service, branch, and platform support teams on the new consumer rights, refund procedures, and required documentation.
  • Establish a compliance monitoring process before January 24, 2026, to ensure implementation readiness across all channels.

In preparation for the effective date, beauty and wellness service operators should prioritize contract remediation, process alignment, and staff readiness. Timely implementation will reduce regulatory and reputational risk while supporting a more transparent and trusted service environment for consumers.

Thailand Mandates Safety Standards for Food Contact and Cooking Paper

June 30, 2026 /

Effective June 22, 2026, Thai Industrial Standards for food contact paper and cooking paper will become mandatory for products sold in Thailand. This regulatory change introduces compulsory product licensing and strengthens requirements for hygiene, labeling, and chemical safety. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and brand owners should assess product portfolios, supplier readiness, and compliance documentation to avoid disruption to market access.

The change reflects Thailand’s broader effort to strengthen consumer protection while supporting the transition from plastic-based materials to paper-based alternatives. As paper packaging becomes more widely used in food preparation, cooking, and packaging, regulators are placing greater emphasis on chemical migration risk, product traceability, and consistent safety standards. The key business implication is clear: sustainability claims must be supported by demonstrable food-contact safety and regulatory compliance.

Regulatory Framework and Compliance Impact

Under the Thai Industrial Standards regime, standards may be either voluntary or mandatory. Voluntary standards allow manufacturers and importers to apply for certification and use the TIS mark as a quality signal, but compliance is not a legal prerequisite for sale. Mandatory standards create a stricter obligation: products must obtain the required license and display the TIS mark before being placed on the Thai market. Products that do not comply cannot be legally manufactured, imported, or sold.

Food contact paper under TIS 2948-2562 and cooking paper under TIS 3438-2565 were previously applied on a voluntary basis. Their transition to mandatory status reflects increased regulatory concern over the rapid growth of paper-based food applications and the associated risk of chemical substances migrating into food. From the effective date, businesses must ensure that covered products are licensed before sale in Thailand. Failure to prepare may result in delayed imports, product withdrawal, sales restrictions, or reputational exposure.

Scope of Products Covered

The two standards apply to different product categories and impose different requirements on raw materials, product composition, and intended use. Businesses should classify affected products carefully to determine the applicable licensing and testing requirements.

  • Food contact paper: This standard applies to paper, paperboard, and uncolored paper containers intended for general food use and hot-filled food applications. Recycled pulp may be used only where it is not sourced from materials with high contamination risk. Any plastic component used with the paper product must comply with applicable requirements prescribed by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.
  • Cooking paper: This standard applies to paper, paperboard, and paper containers made from virgin pulp, either alone or combined with synthetic fibers, for applications such as filtering hot liquids, warming food, or cooking at temperatures not exceeding 220°C. Recycled pulp is not permitted for cooking paper under this standard.

Both product categories must be manufactured under appropriate hygiene and production controls. Companies should review supplier qualification, raw material traceability, production records, and test reports to confirm readiness before the mandatory regime takes effect.

Labeling, Chemical Safety, and Consumer Protection

Both standards require labels to clearly indicate the product’s suitability for different food applications. Labels must include either the prescribed food-contact safety symbol or the required safety statement. For cooking paper intended for microwave or conventional oven use, labels must also specify the applicable power level or temperature and the permitted duration of use. These requirements are intended to reduce misuse and improve consumer understanding at the point of use.

The standards also establish chemical safety controls for heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as hazardous substances used in production, such as optical brighteners and antimicrobial agents. These substances must remain within prescribed safety limits, and materials used in production must be suitable for food-contact applications. Businesses should treat testing, supplier declarations, and technical files as core compliance evidence rather than administrative documentation.

Business Implications

The mandatory standards create both compliance obligations and strategic opportunities. Businesses that act early can reduce supply disruption, demonstrate stronger product governance, and strengthen customer confidence in food-contact safety. Key risks include incomplete product classification, delayed license applications, insufficient supplier documentation, and non-compliant labeling. Key opportunities include improved quality assurance, stronger sustainability positioning, and clearer differentiation for compliant products in the Thai market.

Management should prioritize four actions: identify all affected products, confirm the applicable TIS standard, verify supplier and testing readiness, and prepare licensing and labeling updates before the enforcement date. Where products are sourced internationally, importers should also confirm whether overseas manufacturers can provide the required technical evidence and production controls.

Management Outlook

Thailand’s move to make these standards mandatory represents a material strengthening of food-contact material governance. The regulation is aligned with global sustainability trends but also reinforces that environmental objectives must be balanced with consumer safety. For affected businesses, the priority is to move from awareness to execution: complete product assessments, close documentation gaps, and secure licensing in time to maintain uninterrupted market access.

Cannabis and Hemp Business Guide – Thailand

June 4, 2022 /

Introduction

Until June 9, 2022, cannabis and hemp had been classified as a category 5 narcotic under Thailand’s 1979 Narcotics Act. For many years, all activities related to the plants and their derivatives was heavily restricted until regulatory liberalization began in February 2019 with an amendment to the Narcotics Act. Over the next few years, restrictions on specific types or uses of cannabis and hemp were gradually loosened, and then Thailand became the first country in Asia to permit growing, selling, and using the plant for both medical and other permitted purposes when it delisted both cannabis and hemp plants and their unprocessed parts from the Narcotics Code on June 9, 2022.

This delisting now allows the private sector to grow, possess, sell, and use locally cultivated cannabis and hemp plants without a license. However, the Narcotics Code still regulates cannabis and hemp extracts containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of more than 0.2%. Making or handling a substance with THC over this limit still requires a license, with limited exceptions.

However, the breadth of this liberalization will likely be tempered in the future. The draft Cannabis and Hemp Act, an omnibus law currently under the Thai Parliament’s consideration, is expected in the months to come. This act will specifically govern cannabis and hemp, including by imposing controls such as new restrictions or an enhanced licensing regime.

Most of the product classifications discussed here are based upon THC content, and on the presence of cannabidiol (CBD) in the products. As THC is considered a psychoactive substance—in comparison to CBD, which is not psychotropic and has been applied in various therapeutic indications—a higher THC content may therefore be associated with a greater risk of abuse, and thus stricter regulations will likely apply in Thailand. Under the most recent legal amendments, Thai law defines cannabis as in the Cannabis sativa L. subsp. indica, and hemp as Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa with no more than 1.0 % THC by dry weight in its leaves and inflorescence.

The key regulatory body for cannabis and hemp-related products is the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA), a government agency operating under supervision of the Ministry of Public Health. Working closely with the Narcotics Control Committee, the Thai FDA is mainly responsible for granting and administering licenses and post-marketing control, among others. Representatives of the Thai FDA also sit on most of the national policymaking committees. One of the other Thai government bodies involved in the regulation and control of cannabis and hemp is the Department of Agriculture (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives), which administers the rules on the importation of plant seeds (e.g., cannabis and hemp seeds).

 

Product Classification

Activity-Focused Regulatory Overviews

Cultivating Cannabis/Hemp

Following their June 9, 2022, delisting, Thai nationals may freely cultivate cannabis and hemp plants and trade unprocessed plant parts and crude resins in Thailand without a license.

As stated earlier, however, the current breadth of this liberalization is expected to be temporary. Upon promulgation of the current draft Cannabis and Hemp Act, the industry is likely to face new restrictions and an enhanced licensing regime.

Companies and importation activities are subject to various regulations. For companies, agricultural activities (including growing cannabis/hemp) are still reserved for majority Thai-owned companies.

Importation of cannabis/hemp plants and most unprocessed parts is still prohibited, except for cannabis/hemp seeds, which may be imported under the rules and procedures of the Plant Act (1975) and Plant Quarantine Act (1964).

Producing or Importing Cannabis/Hemp Extracts and Seed Oils

Industrial extraction of cannabis or hemp still requires a Thai FDA license under the Narcotics Code.

After the June 9, 2022, delisting, the following products are now deregulated:

  • Extracts containing 0.2% or less THC by weight produced from domestically grown plants and under license from the Thai FDA, and
  • Seed oils produced from domestically grown seeds.

These deregulated products may be sold, possessed and consumed without a license under the Narcotics Code. Howver, handling any extract or oil that does not fall within the conditions set out above requires a license from the Thai FDA under the Narcotics Code.

Importation. Importation of any extract or oil is still prohibited.

Producing or Importing Medical Cannabis/Hemp and Other Herbal Products

Production. Irrespective of THC content, medical cannabis/hemp (including Thai traditional medicines and cannabis oils) and other herbal products (including herbal cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals) now fall under the purview of the Herbal Product Act (2019). The act, along with its subsequent implementing regulations, provides licensing and product registration requirements for domestic production and distribution of these products.

Importation. Importation of these products is still largely prohibited with a few exceptions: Thai government agencies importing goods for treatment of patients, public academic institutions importing for research purposes, and anyone importing for human clinical trials, subject to the licensing procedures of the Thai FDA under the Herbal Products Act.

Producing or Importing Modern Drugs Formulated with Cannabinoids

Modern drugs formulated with cannabis, hemp extract, or other cannabinoids require regulatory review and licensing from the Thai FDA under the Drug Act. The licensing rules and procedures are already in place through existing ministerial regulations and notifications. Notably, a drug manufacturer or importer license is required for the business operator, and a drug registration certificate is required to market a particular modern drug formulation.

Producing or Importing Cosmetics with Hemp- and Cannabis-based Ingredients

Production. Domestically produced cosmetics may contain any or combination of hemp seed oils, hemp seed extracts, parts of hemp (except inflorescence), parts of cannabis (except inflorescence and seeds), and CBD extracts, provided that the raw materials are obtained from plants grown in Thailand. The production requires a Thai FDA license under the Cosmetics Act. Additionally, the products themselves must comply with the specifications prescribed by the relevant ministerial notifications.

Cannabis seeds, cannabis seed oils, and inflorescences of cannabis and hemp, regardless of their origins, are prohibited from cosmetic product formulations.

Importation. Importation of cosmetic products containing hemp- or cannabis-based ingredients is still prohibited.

Producing or Importing Food, Beverages, Food Supplements, or Food Additives with Hemp- and Cannabis-based Ingredients

Production. Food products may contain hemp seeds, hemp seed oils, hemp seed proteins, parts of hemp (except inflorescence), parts of cannabis (except inflorescence and seeds), and CBD extracts, provided that these are obtained from plants grown in Thailand. For domestically produced goods, a Thai FDA license is required under the Food Act, and the product must comply with the relevant ministerial notifications.

While this allowance is applicable to many food products, there are exceptions. For example, no part of cannabis or hemp may be added to food for infants, food for young children, or energy drinks. In addition, certain foods do not allow addition of cannabis and hemp. Certain other foods allow use with conditions. Because of this variation in rules for different kinds of food, it is important to check the relevant regulations to ensure compliance.

Cannabis seeds, cannabis seed oils, and inflorescences of cannabis and hemp are not allowed as ingredients in any food product.

Importation. Importation of food products containing hemp- or cannabis-based ingredients is still prohibited—even if the cannabis- or hemp-based ingredients came from plants grown in Thailand.

Ready-to-Eat Foods and Beverages

Thai restaurants and cafés are allowed to use cannabis parts (except inflorescence and seeds) and hemp parts (except inflorescence) in their recipes.

Crop and processing infrastructure

The Cannabis and Hemp Act drafting committee is planning to organize cultivation into three classes. Small cultivators, with no more than 10 plants per household, may not have to pay fees but will have to notify the Thai FDA of their growing activities. Medium cultivators, with less than 32,000 square meters (<20 rai) under cultivation, will have to go through additional bureaucratic procedures and pay additional fees. Large cultivators, with over 32,000 square meters (>20 Rai) under cultivation, will be considered commercial cultivators and require FDA approval. Fees for large cultivators are likely to include both monthly and annual payments.

The committee has decided that modern medical practice and traditional physicians, and other healthcare professionals cultivating cannabis for medical purposes, will only be required to notify the FDA of their activities (similar to the requirements for small cultivators).

The Narcotics Division of the Thai FDA published handbooks on growing and handling cannabis crops in 2021. Cultivators can choose among outdoor, semi-outdoor, and indoor cultivation. Outdoor cultivation is described as being low-cost and suitable for Thai cannabis varieties, with the drawbacks of limited pest-control options and harvesting taking place annually. On the other hand, indoor cultivation comes with higher costs but with the advantages of better quality control and year-round harvesting. As for the import of cultivation and processing infrastructure, such as equipment for crop maintenance, testing, extraction, formulation, and packaging, relevant regulations are in place and need to be considered.

Intellectual Property

Patents

On January 28, 2019, the Thai government issued an ordinance to reject a number of Thai patent applications filed by foreign applicants, all of which related to medical formulation or use of cannabis-derived active ingredients. The ordinance was issued to annul any private exclusive rights that could block access to medical cannabis following its legalization, and it was terminated on February 19, 2019, when cannabis legalization took effect. Since then, patentability has once again been examined against the previously established rules of the Patents Act. This means that generally, an application related to cannabis is eligible for a patent if it is not for recreational purposes; not a diagnostic or therapeutic method; and not the plant itself, its part, or crude extract.

Trademarks

Generally, trademark protection for goods or services related to legalized use of cannabis or hemp is available in Thailand, as long as the trademark meets the usual requirements for registration.

Key Dates

April 28, 1979 The Narcotics Act (No. 1) took effect, declaring cannabis and hemp category 5 narcotics.
January 1, 2018 The Hemp Regulation RE: Application of the License and Issuing of Licenses to Manufacture, Disposal or Possession of Hemp came into effect, allowing cultivation and processing of hemp only for industrial such as textiles, paper industries, etc. or non-commercial uses, such as consumption by indigenous groups or research and development. Nonetheless during 2018 until January 29, 2021, only state agencies were able to obtain the licenses in relation to hemp.
Janurary 28, 2019 The National Council for Peace and Order’s Ordinance No. 1/2562 became effective, rejecting Thai patent applications related to cannabis (see also Intellectual Property, above).
February 19, 2019  The Narcotics Act amendment (No. 7) came into effect, legalizing medical use of substances listed as category 5 narcotics (e.g., cannabis, hemp, and kratom).
March 30, 2019  A ministerial notification took effect setting out 16 cannabis-containing Thai traditional medicine formulations that may be consumed for therapeutic purposes without having to be registered with the Thai FDA, as long as manufacturers obtain a narcotic production license from the Thai FDA [overridden by the Key Event of June 9, 2022, below].
May 21, 2019 End of the “amnesty period,” during which persons possessing cannabis for certain purposes (medical, research, etc.) could declare their possession to the Thai FDA and be exempted from criminal punishment.
August 7, 2019 The Government Pharmaceutical Organization launched the first batch of medical CBD oil, THC oil, and CBD: THC oil (4,500 units of 5 milliliters each) for the special access scheme (SAS) in public hospitals.
February 15, 2020 The Minister of Public Health updated the list of cannabis-containing Thai traditional medicine formulations that may be consumed for therapeutic purposes and/or research purposes, without having to be registered with the Thai FDA [overridden by the Key Event of June 9, 2022, below].
December 14, 2020 The “delisting” ministerial notification became effective, carving out domestically produced items containing certain cannabis and hemp plant parts, and CBD extract with less than 0.2% THC by weight, from the scope of Narcotics Act (see also Product Classification, above). Importation of these products still requires an importation license as prescribed in the Narcotics Act [overridden by the Key Event of June 9, 2022, below].
January 29, 2021 The Hemp Regulation RE: Application of the License and Issuing of Licenses to Manufacture, Import, Export Disposal or Possession of Hemp took effect, allowing cultivation for production of modern drugs, herbal products, cosmetics, and food products, as well as for household and certain other uses. This allowed hemp to be used in healthcare- related products. Private entities established in Thailand and groups of farmers (e.g., cooperatives or community enterprises) can obtain licenses without forming a partnership with a state agency.
June 4, 2021 Eight herbal formulas containing cannabis as an active ingredient are listed in the National List of Essential Drugs, which identifies both modern drugs and herbal products deemed necessary for the prevention and treatment of major health problems in Thailand. It also provides a drug reimbursement mechanism for government hospitals.
August 11, 2021 Cannabis and hemp seeds become controlled seeds under the Plants Act (1975). The seeds must exhibit at least 70 percent germination and 99 percent purity. Licensed traders (i.e., importers, collectors) must follow the requirements prescribed in the Plants Act and its bylaws.
August 24, 2021 Kratom is removed from the list of category 5 narcotics, (some parts of cannabis and hemp plants and their derivative products remain on the list—see December 14, 2020).
October 25, 2021 Cannabis L. genus is recognized as eligible for protection as a new plant variety under the Plant Variety Protection Act (1999).
November 26, 2021 The Cannabis Regulation RE: Application of the License and Issuing of Licenses to Manufacture, Import, Export, Dispose or Possession of Cannabis takes effect.
December 9, 2021 The Narcotics Code becomes effective, replacing and consolidating the previous Narcotics Act and Psychotropic Substances Act, among others. The Narcotics Code has transitional provisions that maintain the effects of regulations and validity of licenses previously issued under the Narcotics Act.
June 9, 2022 Cannabis and hemp plants are delisted from the Narcotics Code. Thai nationals may grow the plant and handle unprocessed parts without a license. However, extracts and seed oils remain governed by the Narcotics Code. Finished products may contain cannabis or hemp under the regulation of their respective laws.
June 16, 2022 The Minister of Public Health issues an official notification under the Act on Protection and Promotion of the Knowledge on Thai Traditional Medicines (1999). The notification prohibits selling cannabis to minors (under the age of 20), use of cannabis by pregnant and breastfeeding women, and smoking cannabis in public.
Forthcoming The Cannabis and Hemp Act will likely institute new restrictions and an enhanced licensing regime.

 

© 2021 Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd.

Cannabis

September 5, 2019 /

On February 19, 2019, by amending its 1979 Narcotics Act, Thailand became the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize medicinal cannabis. While hemp had been approved for use in industry since 2018, the amendment of the Narcotics Act providing for a Thai FDA registration pathway for medicinal cannabis, was largely unexpected.

While the amendments create the foundation for a cannabis industry in Thailand, the true viability and future of the Thai cannabis industry lies in its regulation by both the Thai FDA and the Narcotics Control Board. With the return of an elected government, a new cabinet was sworn in on July 16, 2019, with the Bhumjaithai Party appointed to oversee the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). The Bhumjaithai Party campaigned on further expansion of liberal cannabis policies, which was well received by the public. With the minister in charge of instituting regulations that further define the scope and use of cannabis for medical purposes, we can only expect further liberalization and clarification.

Some recent clarification was seen by way of helpful MoPH notifications that identified forms of medical cannabis allowed for approved use. These include (i) registered drugs per the Drug Act; (ii) Thai traditional medicines having approved compositions (now 16 formulas); and (iii) drugs approved for Thailand’s Special Access Scheme. Also further clarified were the specific qualifications of Thai traditional practitioners having authority to prescribe traditional cannabis medicines.

Most recently, two additional notifications from the Narcotics Control Board were enacted concerning the labels of medical cannabis products, and the forms for recording inventory movements of medical cannabis.

The exact Thai FDA medical cannabis licensing pathway is to be set out in Implementing Regulations that have been circulated widely for both official and public comment. These are expected to be approved by the MoPH very soon. As the regulations look to move things forward—and the government wants exactly that—no significant change in the regulations is expected before they become law.

As the Narcotics Act and draft Implementing Regulations currently stand, a complex network of who can be licensed for what purposes seeks to ensure control over the process for the beginning stages. There are currently four types of licenses: (1) production, (2) importation/exportation, (3) sale, and (4) possession. There are currently seven entities under both the Narcotics Act and the draft Implementing Regulations who can apply for medical cannabis licenses: (1) public entities, (2) healthcare professionals, (3) private universities, (4) collective farmers, (5) international transportation agencies, (6) traveling patients, and (7) groups to be permitted by further decisions of the MoPH. A further seven entities are set out in the draft Implementing Regulations.

The draft Implementing Regulations also address which parties can engage in which activities. Certain licensed activities are available to some entities, but not to others. For example, a healthcare professional is ineligible for a license to possess cannabis for the purpose of addiction treatment, but can be licensed to possess cannabis for R&D purposes. Further clarification will come with promulgation of the draft, Implementing Regulations. The listing of successful Thai FDA license applicants on the Thai FDA website (as is the case with other Thai FDA regulated products such as human and animal pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, cosmetics, and hazardous substances) will also provide more clarity.

Foreign participation in Thailand’s cannabis industry is severely restricted for the first five years, starting from February 19, 2019. During this period, only state agencies may obtain a license to produce, import or export cannabis. However, a private entity, with an office in Thailand and at least two-thirds of directors, partners, or shareholders having Thai nationality, may act jointly with a state agency to acquire or share these types of commercialization licenses. In this way, certain companies can be involved in the Thai cannabis industry from its inception. There are no restrictions requiring joint participation in R&D efforts (i.e., non-commercialization).

Fortunately, the Narcotics Act’s aforementioned allowance of new categories of entities (category 7 above) to acquire licenses as the MoPH sees fit is open-ended and, with a party that fought for liberal cannabis policies at the reins, promising. With a population currently in need of medicinal cannabis, the facilities established by the government might not be able to supply enough medical grade cannabis for the current need or to supply it quickly enough. This need for assistance may open the door for foreign entities to enter the market and provide access to enough medicinal cannabis to meet demand.

The current state of regulation provides three basic approaches for any foreign entity looking to enter the Thai cannabis industry. For most of the approaches, extensive work with government regulatory agencies and coordinating joint operations with state agencies will be needed.

The first approach is to import materials into Thailand. Getting the materials into Thailand, whether for distribution or for research & development, will be necessary in the near future as there are no materials to source within Thailand at the moment. This could mean as little as importing finished products ready for distribution, or as much as importing seeds, plants, supplies, personnel, facilities, or other necessities for production or research.

The second approach is to establish domestic manufacturing facilities for the production of cannabis and cannabinoid products. Establishing domestic production in Thailand would be beneficial for several reasons. First, Thailand has a long history of agricultural knowledge in cannabis production, and great facilities for R&D exist through research institutes such as universities and pharmaceutical companies. Second, Thai production comes at a low cost and is associated with a record of safe manufacturing practices for ingestible products. This can be done either by sourcing materials and personnel from within Thailand or by using what was imported in the first approach.

The third approach is to use Thailand as a headquarters for expansion into other Asia-Pacific regions, such as Laos, the next prospective country to follow Thailand’s lead in legalizing medicinal cannabis, or China. Depending on the business model, this could include using production facilities in Thailand to export products throughout Asia-Pacific, establishing networks in the region, or acting as an intermediary between producers and consumers.

APFI Food Safety Regulations Series: Thailand

April 21, 2018 /

To better understand the food regulatory landscape in Asia, APFI has spoken to law firms that specialize in food law from five different countries across Asia, which include China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines.

In the second part of the series, we look at food safety regulations in Thailand. Alan Adcock, partner and deputy director, intellectual property and regulatory affairs, Tilleke & Gibbins, shares his advice.

How do food regulation and registration vary depending on the product or category?

The Thailand FDA classifies food products into four groups, depending on the risk level of the food, as follows:

  1. Specially controlled food:The foods in this group have a high risk level. This food group defines all quality standards, including labelling and production processes, and is tightly controlled. It includes foods for consumer risk groups such as infants.

The foods in this group are modified infant milk and modified infant milk formula, infant food and infant food formula, supplementary food for infants and young children, weight-control food, food additives, cyclamates, and steviol glycosides.

  1. Standardized food: This group comprises foods with a medium risk level. There are quality and labelling standards for each category of food, as in the first group. However, product owners are directly responsible for ensuring their products are in accordance with FDA regulations (i.e., regulations on formula, labelling, and safety and quality standards).

The foods in this group are coffee, edible salt, vitamin-fortified rice, alkaline-preserved egg, cream, electrolyte drinks, chocolate, tea, herbal tea, a few kinds of sauces (i.e., tomato sauce, chili sauce, papaya sauce, and flour sauce), ice, soy milk, drinking water, fish sauce, honey, peanut oil, butter oil, palm oil, coconut oil, fats and oils, mineral water, vinegar, butter, cheese, ghee, margarine and fat spreads, soy sauce, jam, jelly and marmalade, semi processed food, brine for cooking, royal jelly, royal jelly products, food supplements, beverages, cow’s milk, flavored milk, milk products, yoghurt, ice cream, and food in sealed containers.

Royal jelly products, food supplements, beverages, cow’s milk, flavored milk, milk products, yoghurt, ice cream, and food in sealed containers are tightly controlled.

  1. Food with labelling: This group comprises foods with a medium risk level. The FDA was formerly responsible for approving the labelling of food in this group. Currently, this group is no different from the second group. Product owners are directly responsible for ensuring their products are in accordance with FDA regulations (i.e., regulations on formula, labelling, safety, and quality standards).

The foods in this group are bread, husked-rice flour, sauces, meat products, flavoring, gelatine and jelly desserts, chewing gum and candy, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products, irradiated foods, GMO foods, and specially purposed food.

Specially purposed food (e.g., medical food, food for special persons, etc.) is tightly controlled.

  1. General food: This group comprises foods with a low risk level. Foods in this group do not require food product registration with the FDA.

The foods in this group are 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.

In addition, the Thailand FDA provides basic levels of food safety that food manufacturing companies must adhere to in the form of ‘good manufacturing practices’ issued as notifications by the Ministry of Public Health. These are mandatory and discrete to certain food products. It is important for manufacturers to check regularly whether any are applicable to their products.

Have you seen a growth in the number of food and beverage companies entering the markets in Thailand?

We have seen growth not only in Thailand but also across the growing economies of Southeast Asia. Many clients encouraged us to expand our legal and regulatory services to other jurisdictions in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which we did in 2013 by opening our own fully independent law offices in Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar and subsequently in 2015 in Cambodia.

We find that more and more of our clients are looking for a ‘one-stop shop’ that can, for example, handle registration of their highly regulated products in multiple jurisdictions, which we provide with our cross-office Regulatory Affairs practice. We are also seeing more foreign clients pursuing patent litigation cases as local laws get tougher.

Food supplements and nutraceuticals are also becoming more prevalent in Southeast Asian markets. Interestingly, there is a growing number of local and foreign collaborative research and development projects focusing on indigenous flora for possible food and cosmetic applications.

We have seen a marked increase in the number of these projects across our offices here in Southeast Asia and we advise on the agreements, benefit-sharing assessments with local communities, plant variety and patent assessment and registration and, of course, manufacturing and distribution.

Which regulatory hurdles should manufacturers be aware of when entering the food market in Thailand?

Non-English language regulations require constant monitoring and vetting for importance to clients. Our regular involvement in local domestic industry associations also gives us opportunity to participate in regulatory drafting, consultation and bringing client perspectives to the attention of the regulators.

Regulatory non-compliance can result in fines and/or imprisonment depending on the violation and the type of product involved.

Will there be any major changes in Thailand’s food industry in the next few years?

The Thai legislative agenda can be difficult to predict, due to the changeable nature of Thai politics. However, the current government has been very enthusiastic about promoting the food industry as a driver of economic growth, and has made particular efforts to encourage startups in the industry.

In mid-2016, the government announced the establishment of a National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, which launched the Food Innopolis initiative. The initiative comprises a specifically designed science park, at which research and development companies can benefit from substantial tax incentives and various other forms of government support, many of which are guaranteed for between five and eight years.

This is indicative of a number of policies which the government has been seen to support, and it is reasonable to assume that the result will be a substantial increase in technologically innovative food and agricultural startups in the coming decade.

Source: https://www.tilleke.com/resources/apfi-food-safety-regulations-series-thailand

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