Notifications for Thailand (694 notifications)

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from South Africa has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in area of South Africa. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015),the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from South Africa is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from the United Kingdom has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Frodsham, Cheshire county of the United Kingdom. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Cheshire county of the United Kingdom is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Indonesia has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is an endemic disease in Indonesia. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Indonesia is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Viet Nam has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in area of Viet Nam. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Viet Nam is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 16 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Denmark has expired on 16 March 2021. However, the OIE reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in area of Denmark. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Denmark is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 16 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from France has expired on 16 March 2021. However, the OIE reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Lucciana, Haute-Corse department of France. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Haute-Corse department of France is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Germany has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in area of Germany. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Germany is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live domestic and wild pigs and their carcasses from the Lao People's Democratic Republic has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of African Swine Fever in area of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live domestic and wild pigs and their carcasses from the Lao People's Democratic Republic is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 15 December 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from the Netherlands has expired on 15 March 2021. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in area of the Netherlands. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from the Netherlands is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (21 April 2021).

The following processed food products are now considering as animal carcasses under the Animal Epidemic Act B.E. 2558: Sausages, Chinese sausages, sour pork sausages, salami, ham, bacon, smoked beef, smoked pork, smoked mutton, smoked goat, smoked chicken, smoked duck, smoked goose, smoked turkey, smoked ostrich, pickle beef, pickle pork, pickle mutton, pickle goat, pickle chicken, pickle duck, pickle goose, pickle turkey, pickle ostrich, cured beef, cured pork, cured mutton, cured goat, cured chicken, cured duck, cured goose, cured turkey, cured ostrich, beef burger, pork burger, chicken burger, turkey burger, ostrich burger, mutton burger, goat burger, honey, honeycomb, royal jelly, salted eggs or salted egg yolks, preserved eggs.

According to the Royal Thai Government policy on promotion of cannabis and hemp as the cash crops, some parts of cannabis and hemp that comply with the certain criteria laid down by the Narcotic Substance Committee shall be exempted from the Notification of Ministry of Public Health under the Narcotic Substances Law regarding classification of narcotic substances in the Schedule V. Therefore, such parts of cannabis and hemp may be used in food or other industries by requiring that cannabis and hemp used in food industry shall abide by the food law and be used based upon the general purpose of food. By the virtue of article 5 and articles 6(1), 6(2), 6(4), 6(5), 6(6), 6(7), 6(8), 6(9) and 6(10) of the Food Act of 1979 (B.E. 2522), the Minister of Public Health hereby issued the (draft) Notification as follows: Clause 1 – Food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall be classified as the Special Control Food. Clause 2 – In this Notification, the following terms are defined:- "Cannabis parts" mean the following parts of a cannabis plant (Cannabis indica or Cannabis sativa L.) which exclusively produced in Thailand by the licence holders:(1) bark, stems, fibre, branches and roots;(2) leaves without sugar leaves or inflorescent;- "Hemp parts" mean the following parts of hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa) which exclusively produced in Thailand by the licence holders:(1) bark, stems, fibre, branches and roots;(2) leaves without sugar leaves or inflorescent;- "Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)" means delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol  (∆9-THC);- "Package" means an immediate container that is in direct contact with food products, excludes a container in which such immediate containers are contained or wrapped, if any.    Clause 3 – The following food products shall not be produced, imported or sold if contain cannabis or hemp parts:(1) foods for infant and young child;(2) formula milk for infant and young child;(3) food supplements for infant and young child;(4) other foods prescribed by the Minister of Public Health. Clause 4 – Food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall possess qualities or standards as follows:(1) Tetrahydrocannabinol shall not exceed 1.6 milligrams per package;(2) Cannabidiol shall not exceed 1.41 milligrams per package;High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or higher sophisticated analytical methods shall be used for analysis of the substances prescribed in (1) and (2) above;(3) Toxins shall not exceed the maximum limits laid down in the MOPH Notification regarding foods that contain toxins;(4) Chemical contaminants shall not exceed the maximum limits laid down in the MOPH Notification regarding foods that contain contaminants;(5) Pathogenic microorganisms shall be in compliance with the MOPH Notification regarding qualities or standards related to pathogenic microorganisms in foods;(6) Other qualities or standards prescribed in the MOPH Notifications for some particular food items shall be complied as the case may be. Clause 5 – Manufactures who produce food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall perform legal acquirement of cannabis or hemp parts and control production process in compliance with the MOPH notification regarding Production Processes, Equipment and Storage of foods.The manufactures shall maintain records of stock or inventory of cannabis and hemp parts at its premises. Clause 6 – Use of food additives in food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall comply with the MOPH Notification regarding food additives. Clause 7 – Use of food packaging to contain food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall comply with the MOPH Notification regarding food packaging. Clause 8 – Labelling of food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall comply with the MOPH Notification regarding labelling of packaged foods. In addition, some food items shall comply with the MOPH Notifications regarding specific requirements on labelling for particular food items, as the case may be. Clause 9 -  The following messages shall be displayed on a label of a food product that contain cannabis or hemp parts:(1) Message of "WARNING" with a size of not less than 1.5 millimetres that placed inside a square or rectangular text-box shall be displayed on a label. The text colour shall be contrast to background colour of the text box. Colour of border of the text box shall be contrast to the label colour;(2) Message of "Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women should not consume" shall be displayed on a label;(3) Message of "Immediately stop eating if getting adverse effects" shall be displayed on a label;(4) Message of "THC- or CBD-hypersensitive person should be aware of allergic reaction" shall be displayed on a label;(5) Message of  "May cause drowsiness, avoid driving or operate heavy equipment" shall be displayed on a label;(6) Message of  "Contains less than 1.6 milligrams of THC per package" shall be displayed on a label;(7) Message of  "Should not consume more than 2 packages per day" shall be displayed on a label;(8) Message of "Cannabis" or "Hemp" or "precise parts of cannabis or hemp used" shall be displayed nearby the common name of food product or incorporated into the common name of product;(9) Other messages prescribed by the Minister of Public Health shall be displayed, if any. Clause 10 - Nutrition claims for food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall comply with the MOPH Notification regarding nutrition labelling. Clause 11 – Health claims for food products that contain cannabis or hemp parts shall comply with the MOPH Notification regarding health claim. Clause 12 - This notification shall enter into force as from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette onward. This draft Ministry of Public Health Notification was also notified under the TBT Notification.

Where it deems appropriate to amend the regulation regarding standards for contaminants in foods. By the virtue of article 5 and articles  6(1) and (9) of the Food Act of 1979 (B.E.2522), the Minister of Public Health hereby issued the (draft) Notification as follows:Clause 1 – The substances, i.e. 7. Total Tetrahydrocannabinol and 8. Cannabidiol, shall be added to Table 3 (Maximum levels of other contaminants) of Annex 1 attached to the MOPH Notification, issued by the virtue of the Food Act of 1979 (Number 414) of B.E. 2563 (2020) dated 20 March 2020 entitled Standards for Contaminants in Foods as follows:7. Total Tetrahydrocannabinol, THCCommodity/ Food Product             Maximum   Portion of the commodity/  Note                                                        Level          Product to which the ML                                                        (mg/kg)       applies   Foods for infant and young child,    Not              (not specify)                     (6)Formula milk for infant and          detected young child,  Food supplements for infant and young child    8. Cannabidiol, CBDCommodity/ Food Product             Maximum   Portion of the commodity/   Note                                                        Level          Product to which the ML                                                        (mg/kg)       applies   Foods for infant and young child,    Not              (not specify)                       (6)Formula milk for infant and          detected young child,  Food supplements for infant and young child Note: (6) "Not detected" means detected below 0.1 mg of total THC/ kg or 0.2 mg of CBD/kg. Total THC means sum of content of the substances Δ9 -THC, Δ8 -THC and THC content.  Clause 2 - This notification shall enter into force as from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette onward.

The OIE reported outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Serotype H5N8 and H5N1 in many areas of the United Kingdom. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Dorset and Devon of England, in Orkney of Scotland and in Antrim of Northern lreland is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after date of publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (2 February 2021).

According to the announcement of the Government Gazette dated 2 October 2020, the suspension for importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from India has expired on 31 December 2020. However, the OIE has reported a continued outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Serotype H5N8 in the area of India. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from India is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (2 February 2021).

The OIE reported outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Serotype H5N5 in West-Vlaanderen of Belgium. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Belgium is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after date of publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (2 February 2021).

The OIE reported outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Serotype H5N8 in Corse-du-Sud, Yvelines, Landes, Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques of France. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Corse-du-Sud, Yvelines, Landes, Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques of France is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after date of publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (2 February 2021).

The OIE reported outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Serotype H5N8 in Komarom-Esztergom of Hungary. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live poultry and poultry carcasses from Komarom-Esztergom of Hungary is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after date of publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (2 February 2021).

The Draft Ministry of Public Health notification entitled "Hemp seed, hemp seed oil, hemp seed protein, and food supplement containing hemp seed, hemp seed oil, or hemp seed protein", previously notified in G/SPS/N/THA/327 dated 26 August 2020, was adopted and published in the Royal Gazette dated 4 March 2021 as Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 425.Date of entry into force: This notification shall come into force after the day following date of its publication in the Royal Gazette (5 March 2021).Text available at:http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/049/T_0001.PDF

The Draft Ministry of Public Health notification entitled "Prescribed plants, animals, or parts of plant or animal which are prohibited to be used in food", previously notified in G/SPS/N/THA/326 dated 26 August 2020, was adopted and published in the Royal Gazette dated 25 February 2021 as Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 424.Date of entry into force: This notification shall come into force after the day following date of its publication in the Royal Gazette (26 February 2021).Text available at:http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/045/T_0032.PDF

Following the reported of Department of Fisheries, White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) are detected in imported prawn products from Ecuador and Madagascar. Therefore, it is necessary for Thailand to prevent the entry of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) into the country. By the virtue of Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the importation of live prawns and prawn carcasses (including Penaeus vannameiP. monodon and P. stylirostris) from Ecuador and Madagascar is temporarily suspended for a period of 90 days after date of publication in the Thai Royal Gazette (3 March 2021).