Notifications for Thailand (694 notifications)

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Notification notified in G/SPS/N/THA/247 on 19 April 2018 was adopted as Notification of MOPH No. 393 regarding the revision of food containing pesticide residues (No. 2), which was published in the Royal Gazette on 22 October 2018.Date of entry into force: The date after being notified in the Government Gazette (23 October 2018). Text available at: http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/264/T_0010.PDF (in Thai)http://food.fda.moph.go.th/law/data/announ_moph/V.English/No.393.pdf (in English)

Since contamination and mycotoxins generally may imply a risk to human health and since Codex has established the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995), the Ministry of Public Health has amended the maximum level requirements of contaminants and toxins in food as follows: 1) The MOPH will revoke several MOPH notifications regarding the ML requirements as shown in Annex 1 and replace them with the MLs as shown in Annex 2 of this draft notification.2) Annex 2 sets out the maximum levels for certain contaminants including: a) heavy metals (i.e. arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and tin); b) mycotoxins (i.e. aflatoxin, Deoxynivalenol, Fumonisins B1+B2 and Ochratoxin A); c) other contaminants (i.e. hydrocyanic acid, cyclopropenoid fatty acid, melamine, 3-MCPD); and d) radionuclides (i.e. Pu-238, I-129, Cs-137 C-14). >3) The methods of analysis for concerned contaminants shall comply with the methods prescribed in Annex 3. 4) This draft notification shall not apply to:  a) food additives, processing aid that comply with MOPH notification Re: food additives;  b) drinking water in seal container that comply with MOPH notification Re: drinking water in seal container ;  c) mineral water that comply with MOPH notification Re: mineral water;  d) flavouring agents that comply with MOPH notification Re: flavouring agents;  e) other foods with maximum levels of contaminants and toxins that have been specifically announced by MOPH. >5) Manufacturers or importers of food shall comply with this draft notification within 180 days from the date of entry into force of this draft notification. 6) This draft notification shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) proposes to revise the measures for controlling "Pathogens in Food" as follows:(1) The notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 364) (B.E. 2556) entitled "Food Standards as regards Pathogens", dated 25 September 2013, is repealed and replaced by this draft MOPH notification;(2) Foods listed in Annex 1 of this Notification shall be freed from pathogenic microorganisms excluding pathogenic microorganisms specified in Annex 2;(3) This draft notification shall not apply to dietary supplements, food additives and other foods which have specific requirements for pathogenic microorganisms shall be exempted; and (4) The methods of analysis for concerned pathogens shall be complied with the prescribed methods in Annex 3.

It is deemed appropriate to establish a regulation to control the usage of chemicals in food production or directly in contact with food products in order to eliminate or reduce quantity of biological, chemical, and physical hazards contamination for the safety of consumers. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) therefore proposes the draft Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No…) B.E… (…) issued by virtue of the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979) regarding cleaning or sanitizing products for food and its production to establish the quality and safety requirements including terms of use.Key points of this notification are as follows:Clause 1. Cleaning or sanitizing products for using in food shall be specific controlled food under the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 281) B.E. 2547 (2004) Re: Food Additives dated 18 August.Clause 2. The definition of "cleaning or sanitizing products for food production and products" means food additives intently used as processing aid for washing, cleaning, eliminating or reducing quantity of biological, chemical, and physical hazards contaminated in food products.Clause 3. The products in this draft notification are categorized into three types according to the purpose of usage as follows:(3.1) Cleaning products(3.2) Sanitizing products(3.3) Cleaning and sanitizing productsClauses 4 to 6. The products in this draft notification shall be complied with the following quality and safety requirements: Composition of the products, i.e. active ingredients, food additives, flavouring agents and other ingredients shall not be hazardous or harmful to health and shall have the qualities or standards according to the criteria specified in this draft notification. For the products which contain more than two contaminants, the requirements are as follows: >- Arsenic not more than 3 mg/kg;- Lead not more than 10 mg/kg. The usage of active ingredients and conditions shall be complied with permitted list as shown in Annex. Quality and safety requirements of cleaning products consisting of surfactant for washing vegetables and fruits are specified. >Clause 7. Labelling requirements for the products in this draft notification shall be complied with the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 281) B.E. 2547 (2004) Re: Food Additives dated 18 August, and the following particulars shall be declared on the label, such as name of food, using instruction (including product preparation and direction for removing from food), precautionary statements, and first-aid measures, etc.Clause 8. The usage of active ingredients besides specified in the Annex of this draft notification shall be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thailand in advance. Manufacturers or importers shall submit the document for safety assessment as specified in the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 281) B.E. 2547 (2004) Re: Food Additives dated 18 August.Clause 9. Manufacturers or importers of the cleaning or sanitizing products for food production and products shall follow the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 193) B.E. 2543 (2000), Re: Production Processes, Production Equipment, and Foods Storages dated 19 September.Clause 10. The product containers shall follow the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 92) B.E. 2528 (1985) Re: Prescription of Quality or Standard for Food Containers, Use of Food Containers and Prohibition of Materials Used as Food Containers dated 19 July.Clause 11. This notification shall come into force from the day following date of its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH notification concerning "Food seasoning derived from the hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean protein" as follows: 1. Clause 9 of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Food seasoning derived from the hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean protein dated 6 May 2010 is repealed and shall be replaced by the following statements:          9.Labeling of food seasoning derived from hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean shall comply with the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods and shall be declared with the following statements: >             (1) food seasoning derived from the hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean protein containing edible salt as an ingredient and iodine added during the production process or food seasoning derived from the hydrolysis or fermentation of soybean protein contained iodized salt as an ingredient, shall be declared as follows:                   (1.1) In case of it contained edible salt as an ingredient and iodine added during the production process, the text of "Iodine……mg/l" or "Use iodine as an ingredient" or "Iodine added" shall be displayed in a prominent position.                   (1.2) In case of it contained iodized salt as an ingredient, the one of any following text shall be displayed: The text of "Edible salt fortified with iodine…………%" or "Iodine fortified salt……%" or "Iodized salt……%" shall be displayed in the main ingredients; or The text of "Use edible salt fortified with iodine" or "Use iodine fortified salt" or "Use iodized salt" or "Mixed with edible salt fortified with iodine" or "Mixed with iodine fortified salt" or "Mixed with iodized salt" shall be displayed in a prominent position. >      The producer or importer may specify the type of salt such as "sea salt" or "rock salt" with such statements". 2. This Notification shall come into force on the following date after its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH Notification concerning "Beverages in Sealed Container" as follows: 1. An annex of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E. 2557 Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods dated 8 May B.E. 2557 (2014), shall be repealed and replaced with the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No… (B.E. …) Re: Beverages in Sealed Container (No. 2); 2. Beverage with mixed caffeine shall be declared with the text "Do not drink more than 2 … (container unit such as can, bottle, etc.) a day because it may cause palpitation and sleepless. Children and pregnant women should not drink. The person who has underlying disease and patients should consult with physician before drinking". The text should be presented in bold-red not less than 2mm height inside white square with borders that contrast with the background"; 3. Producers or importers of beverages mixed with caffeine shall modify their product label to comply with this notification. For products bearing the label manufactured before the enforcement of this notification may continue to place in the market not more than two years after the enforcement date; 4. This notification shall come into force on the following date after its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH Notification concerning "The Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" as follows: 1. The Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 244) B.E. 2544 (2001), Re: Labelling of Foods Packed Together with Material Intended for Qualities Control Purpose, dated 26 September, the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 245) B.E. 2544 (2001), Re: Labelling of Foods Containing Aloe Vera, dated 2 October and the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 255) B.E. 2545 (2002), Re: Labelling of Foods with Ginkgo biloba Leaves or Extraction from Ginkgo biloba Leaves, dated 30 May, shall be repealed. 2. An annex of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E. 2557 (2014), Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods dated 8 May B.E. 2557 (2014), shall be repealed and replaced with Annex of this notification. 3. As (16) in Clause 14 of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E. 2557 (2014), Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods dated 8 May B.E. 2557 (2014) and the Notification of the Public Health (No. 383) B.E. 2560 (2017), Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (No. 2) dated 27 February, the following message is added: >"(16) Additional texts advised by the Food Commission with an approval from the Food and Drug Administration". 4. This notification shall come into force from the day following date of its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH notification concerning "Fish Sauce" as follows: 1. Clause 10(3) of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 203) B.E. 2543 (2000) entitled "Fish Sauce" dated 19 September 2000 is repealed and shall be replaced by the following statements: >         (3) Fish sauce containing edible salt as an ingredient and iodine added during production process or fish sauce containing iodized salt as an ingredient, shall be declared as follows:               (3.1) In case of fish sauce containing edible salt as an ingredient and iodine added during production process, the text of "Iodine……mg/l" or "Use iodine as an ingredient" or "Iodine mixed" shall be displayed in a prominent position.               (3.2)  In case of fish sauce containing iodized salt as an ingredient, one of any following texts shall be displayed as follows:                          i.The text of "Edible salt fortified with iodine…………%" or "Iodine fortified salt……%" or "Iodized salt……%" shall be displayed in the main ingredients; or                          ii. The text of "Use edible salt fortified with iodine" or "Use iodine fortified salt" or "Use iodized salt" or "Mixed with edible salt fortified with iodine" or "Mixed with iodine fortified salt" or "Mixed with iodized salt" shall be displayed in a prominent position. >            The producer or importer may specify the type of salt such as "sea salt" or "rock salt" with such statements. 2. This Notification shall come into force on the following date after its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH Notification concerning "Food supplement (No. 3)" as follows: 1. Clause 4 of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 293) B.E. 2548 (2005), Re: Food Supplement dated 26 June, shall be repealed and replaced with: >          "Clause 4 Food supplement is regulated under the regulation of food quality or food standards." 2. Clause 9 and 10 of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 293) B.E. 2548 (2005), Re: Food Supplement dated 15 December and the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 309) B.E. 2550 (2007), Re: Food Supplement (No. 2) dated 7 November, shall be repealed and replaced with: >         "Clause 9 Labelling of food supplement shall follow the Notification of Ministry of Public Health Re: Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods and declare the information as follows:9.1 Food name, the word "food supplement" shall be displayed as a part of the name or accompanied with.9.2 Net quantity of content statement shall be declared as follows:      9.2.1 Food supplement in tablets or capsules showed as number per pack;      9.2.2 Food supplement in liquid showed as net volume;      9.2.3 Food supplement in solid or others showed as net weight;9.3 Name and amount of main or characteristic ingredients are sorted in descending order.Clause 10 Precautions or other statements for food supplement products must be declared as in Annex".The following food supplements are requested to declare additional warning or additional statement:shark cartilage, pollen, chitosan, fish oil, evening primrose oil, fiber, Royal Jelly and Royal Jelly products, lecithin, ginger and ginger extract, turmeric extract (Curcuminoids) and food supplement with sweetener (e.g. sugar alcohol, acesulfame K, aspartame).3. This notification shall come into force from the day following date of its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH Notification concerning "Ice Cream" as follows: 1. An annex of the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 367) B.E. 2557 (2014), Re: Labeling of Prepackaged Foods dated 8 May, shall be repealed and replaced with the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No… (B.E. …) Re: Ice Cream (No. 2); 2. For ice cream which use food additive for ice structuring stability, shall declare as "Using protein setting ice structure type 3 HPLC 12" or "Using Ice Structuring Protein type III HPLC 12" and provide contact number or website in case consumers need more information; 3. This notification shall come into force from the day following date of its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.

Enzymes for food processing are now covered by the MOPH Notification No. 281 B.E. 2547 (2004) Re: Food Additives. Enzymes, other than those approved by Codex General Standard for Food Additives, are required to have safety evaluations before they are allowed for use in food production. Due to differences between information requirements of enzymes and other chemical food additives, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing the notification on Enzymes for Food Processing. This notification sets the rules for industrial enzymes intended to be used in food processing both as food additives and processing aids. However, the scope of this notification excludes: enzymes for nutritional purposes; enzymes produced by traditional microbial cultures during fermentation; and enzymes used exclusively in the production of food additives or processing aids.Enzymes for food processing should be qualified as follows: - Enzyme activity is over 85 percent of informed enzyme activity. No genetic engineering microbes in 1 g (for enzymes derived from genetic engineering microbes). Quality and safety are under the following conditions: >    3.1 Compliance with Codex Advisory Specification for the Identity and Purity of Food Additive    3.2 Compliance with General specification and considerations for enzyme preparations used in food processing as follows:Salmonella spp.: Absent in 25g sample         - Total coliforms: Not more than 30MPN/gEscherichia coli: Absent in 25g sample           - Lead: not more than 5mg/kg          - Antibiotic Activity: Absent in preparations from microbial sources.    3.3 Compliance with Food and Drug Administration (Thailand)'s notifications. The draft notification contains: - List of enzymes for food processing shown in Annex I. Food enzymes that are not listed in Annex I or not evaluated by JECFA have to undergo a comprehensive scientific safety assessment by the risk assessors in Thailand; - Information required to approve the usage of new food enzymes provided in Annex II; - Application requirement to demonstrate technological needs and efficiency in Annex III for the usage of food enzyme that do not fall under the scope of its functional use as set out in Annex I; - List of food additives approved for use in food enzymes and their conditions listed in Annex IV; - Enzymes for food processing analytical method is provided in Annex V which complies with "Combine compendium of food additive specifications: Analytical methods, test procedures and laboratory solutions used by and referenced in the food additive specifications"; - Labelling requirement for food enzyme stated in the MOPH Notification Re: Food Additives. All food products using enzymes as food additives and processing aids which are not included in the list before the enforcement of this notification have to provide information for safety assessment and technological needs within two years from the date of entry into force of this notification; - This notification shall come into force on the date after being notified in the Royal Gazette.

The Thai FDA is now proposing for adoption and endorsement by the Public Health Minister the proposed measure whereas all comments from stakeholders both inside and outside the country have been taken into consideration and the proposed measure has been modified as follows: Clause 1. The expressions in Clause 8(6) of the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 352) B.E. 2556 (2013), Re: Other Milk Products, dated 26th June B.E. 2556 (2013), shall be repealed. The following expression shall be used instead.            "(6) Coliform bacterial shall be detected not more than 10 in 1 ml. of pasteurized other milk products at manufacturing factory."Clause 2. Manufacturers or importer of pasteurized flavoured milk which received Food Serial Number prior to the enforcement date of this Notification shall comply with requirements prescribed in this Notification within 1 year.Clause 3. This notification shall come into force after 180 days as from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

The Thai FDA is now proposing for adoption and endorsement by the Public Health Minister the proposed measure whereas all comments from stakeholders both inside and outside the country have been taken into consideration and the proposed measure has been modified as follows:Clause 1. The expressions in Clause 8(13) of the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 351) B.E. 2556 (2013), Re: Flavoured Milk, dated 26th June B.E. 2556 (2013), shall be repealed. The following expression shall be used instead.            "(13) Coliform bacterial shall be detected not more than 10 in 1 ml. of pasteurized flavoured milk at manufacturing factory."Clause 2. Manufacturers or importer of pasteurized flavoured milk which received Food Serial Number prior to the enforcement date of this Notification shall comply with requirements prescribed in this Notification within 1 year.Clause 3. This notification shall come into force after 180 days as from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

In response to the requests received from other member countries regarding the complexity of the issues covered in the Draft Ministry of Public Health Notification, B.E..., entitled "Nutrition Labelling (No. 3)", notification G/SPS/N/THA/248 dated 18 May 2018, an extension period of the comment is provided until 15 August 2018.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) notification reported in G/SPS/N/THA/245 on 20 March 2018 has been adopted as notification of MOPH No. 389 regarding the revision of maximum permitted level for food additives, which has been published in the Official Gazette on 25 July 2018.Date of entry into force: The date after being notified in the Official Gazette (26 July 2018).Text available at http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/178/1.PDF (available in Thai).

According to the Thailand s notification, G/SPS/N/THA/242/Add.1, circulated on 25 July 2018, it should be corrected to read as follows: The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Notification circulated as G/SPS/N/THA/242 on 29 November 2017 and G/SPS/N/THA/242/Corr.1 on 20 February 2018, has been adopted as Notification of MOPH No. 388 regarding Prescribed Prohibited Food to be Produced, Imported or Sold (Trans fats derived from partially hydrogenated oil) in the Official Gazette dated 13 July 2018. Date of entry into force: One hundred eighty days after notified in the Official Gazette (9 January 2019).http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/166/5.PDF

This mandatory standard establishes requirements on good agricultural practices for the management of commercial layer farm, covering farm components, managements of farms, animal feed, water, personnel, animal health, animal welfare, pullets and layer hens, eggs and environment including record keeping. This standard aims to support the production of good quality eggs which are safe for consumers. This standard does not cover eggs produced from layer farms that are certified by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) under other standards such as the Thai Agricultural Standard on Organic Agriculture Part 2: Organic Livestock (TAS 9000 Part 2) and standards on free range layer farming.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Notification circulated as G/SPS/N/THA/242 on 29 November 2017 and G/SPS/N/THA/242/Corr.1 on 20 February 2018, has been adopted as Notification of MOPH No. 388 regarding Prescribed Prohibited Substances to be Used in Foods (Trans fats derived from partially hydrogenated oil) in the Official Gazette dated 18 September 2017.Date of entry into force: One hundred eighty days notified in the Official Gazette (9 January 2019).http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/166/5.PDFThailand SPS Enquiry PointE-mail: spsthailand@gmail.com

Point 6c.(4) should read:"Labelling of food according to Item b (1)-(3) shall display the following text: in bold and visible letters which its colour contrast with background of box and label "consume small amount and exercise for healthy condition."

In order to update and comply with international standards, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the MOPH Notifications, as follows: The MOPH notification (No.151) B.E. 2536 (1993) on Prescribed prohibited substances used in food, dated 28 December 1993 and The MOPH notification (No.247) B.E.2544 (2001) on Prescribed prohibited substances used in food (No.2), dated 28 November 2001, are repealed and replaced by this (Draft) MOPH Notification; Prescribed foods which have criteria, condition, and method of use in food produced for sale, imported for sale or sold as follows: >1. Calcium iodate or Potassium iodate;2. Methyl alcohol or Methanol;3. Stevia which scientific name is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and products from stevia. This draft notification shall come into force after the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.