How to Register Food Products in Thailand

If you want to import, distribute, or sell food products in Thailand, you must first register them with the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA). This is a legal requirement under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 

Operating without the correct approvals is considered a legal violation that can result in product seizures, fines, and being barred from the market entirely. For foreign companies, these consequences can derail months of market entry planning.

This guide will walk you through how the Thai FDA categorizes food products, correct licenses you need to obtain, and the overall registration process. 

How the Thai FDA Categorizes Food Products

The Thai FDA operates under the Ministry of Public Health and classifies food into four categories based on risk level. Each category has different registration requirements, so it is important to consider which category your goods belong to right from the start. 

Category 1: Specifically Controlled Food

This is the highest-risk category and carries the most stringent requirements. Products in this category require formal recipe registration and the issuance of a food serial number before they can be imported or sold. The scrutiny applied to them is the most rigorous in the Thai system.

Here are some examples of Specifically Controlled Food: 

• Food for weight management
• Modified milk for infants and follow-on formula
• Baby food
• Food for infants and young children
• Food additives
• Enzymes used in food production
• Cleaning or sanitizing products for food contact surfaces
• Food products containing hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp seed protein, certain parts of cannabis or hemp, and cannabidiol (CBD) extracts.

Category 2: Food with Quality or Standard Requirements

This category covers a broad range of processed and packaged goods where the Thai FDA has set specific quality benchmarks. Importers and manufacturers of Category 2 products must obtain a food serial number and ensure their products meet the specific quality parameters laid out in the relevant Ministerial Notifications before selling in Thailand.

Some examples in this category include: 

• Food supplements
• Royal jelly
• Cow's milk and
• Fermented milk
• Ice cream
• Food in hermetically sealed containers
• Bottled beverages
• Chocolate
• Vitamin-fortified rice
• Edible salt
• Electrolyte drinks
• Tea and coffee products
• Soy milk in sealed containers
• Mineral water
• Various sauces (fish sauce, vinegar, edible oils and fats) 
• Honey, jams, jellies and marmalades in sealed containers
• Butter
• Cheese 

Category 3: Food with Labeling Requirements

Products in this category do not face the same level of technical scrutiny as Categories 1 and 2, but they are still regulated through specific labeling rules. This group includes:

• Husked rice flour
• Prepared gelatin and jelly
• Irradiated food
• Sauces in sealed containers
• Favoring agents
• Bread
• Chewing gums and candies
• Ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat food
• Special purpose food
• Meat products
• Food derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The compliance obligation here focuses primarily on ensuring your labels accurately reflect what is in the product and meet Thai regulatory language requirements.

Category 4: General Food

General food refers to products that do not fall under Categories 1 to 3. These are typically raw or minimally processed items used as ingredients or in cooking. Here are some examples: 

• Fresh produce
• Animals and animal products
• Flour and flour products
• Seasonings, spices, sugar
• Unpackaged staples.

For most products in Category 4, you are not required to obtain a food serial number before importing or selling. However, if a general food product is packaged in a hermetically sealed container (such as a metal can, a glass jar with a sealed metal lid, or a plastic container with an aluminum foil layer), it will be reclassified as food in a hermetically sealed container and treated under the standards for Category 2.

If you choose to voluntarily register a Category 4 product and obtain a food serial number, your labels must be displayed correctly in accordance with the registration.

Who Can Register Food Products in Thailand?

The Thai FDA does not allow foreign companies to register food products directly. You must be a juristic person (company) that holds a commercial registration certificate and has a registered place of business in Thailand. As a foreigner, you have two options: 

1. Establish a locally registered Thai company
2. Partner with an existing licensed Thai entity such as

Whichever path you choose, you can work with Emerhub to help you establish your own company or serve as your local partner in Thailand. We can help you navigate the  registration process, hold the necessary licenses, and ensure your products remain compliant on an ongoing basis.

Talk to our local consultants in Thailand to learn more about how Emerhub can support your  entry into Thailand’s food and beverage industry. 

Obtaining an Establishment License (Premises Approval)

To register a food product in Thailand, you would need to first have an Establishment License to prove you have the capacity to store or manufacture these items. 

The establishment license is issued at the premises level, meaning it is linked to a specific physical location such as a warehouse or production facility. The type of license required depends on whether the business will be importing food or manufacturing it locally.

For Food Importers (Form Orr. 7)

Businesses importing food for sale in Thailand require a License for Importation or Ordering of Food into the Kingdom (Form Orr. 7). You must be a registered juristic entity with a commercial registration certificate and a place of business in the Kingdom.

Your import premises and storage facilities must meet the Thai FDA's physical standards, including: 

• Storage areas must be permanent structures, clean, secure, and hygienic.
• Must have sufficient lighting and ventilation, and food storage rooms must be clearly separated from other goods such as drugs or cosmetics. 
• Pallets or racks must be used to keep food off the floor, and clear signage indicating the type and purpose of the storage area is required.

An FDA officer will conduct a site inspection before your import license is approved. The inspection verifies that your facility meets these physical standards, so it is worth ensuring your warehouse is fully compliant before scheduling the visit.

The processing time for granting a food import license, once all documents are in order, is typically five working days.

For Food Manufacturers (Form Orr. 2)

If you’re producing food locally for sale in Thailand, you would need a Food Production License (Form Orr. 2). This applies to facilities that meet the legal definition of a factory, being premises that use machinery with a combined power of 50 horsepower or more, or that employ 50 or more workers. Smaller production operations are covered under a separate certificate (Form SorBor. 1/1).

All food production premises, regardless of size, must comply with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards under MOPH Notification No. 420 (B.E. 2563). GMP rules cover five main areas: 

1. Location and production building cleanliness and maintenance
2. Equipment, machines, and utensils
3. Process control
4. Sanitation
5. Personal hygiene. 

A site inspection is required as part of the licensing process, with a standard processing time of 10 working days for the inspection and a further six working days to issue the license.

Obtaining a Product License (Food Serial Number)

With an establishment license in place, each food product intended for sale must be individually licensed. This is where you receive a food serial number, which is a 13-digit identifier that is required to appear on the product label before it can be sold in Thailand.

The type of certificate issued depends on the product's classification:

Emerhub can help you process these specific licenses through Thailand’s e-Submission System. 

Required Documents for a Product License

The Thai FDA requires a complete set of documents to review your product application. While the exact documents vary by product type, the typical submission package for an imported food product includes:

• Your valid establishment license (Form Orr. 7)
• A copy of your company's commercial registration certificate
• Detailed product specification sheets, including ingredient lists and formulation details
• The manufacturer's GMP certificate or equivalent quality system documentation
• A Certificate of Free Sale or Health Certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of manufacture (for imports)
• Sample label designs with Thai-language text
• Test results or quality certificates, where applicable to the product category

All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by certified Thai translations.

Technical Review and FDA Queries

The Thai FDA will conduct an initial screening of your submission to verify that all required fields are filled and all supporting documents are included. Applications with missing or incomplete documents are rejected at this stage and must be resubmitted.

For products that pass initial screening, a more detailed technical review follows. An FDA officer will assess whether the product meets all applicable quality and safety standards under the relevant Ministerial Notifications. If any compliance issues are identified during this review, the FDA may allow a one-time opportunity to amend your documents within 15 calendar days. Failing to respond within that window will result in the application being rejected.

For products in certain categories, the FDA may also request that physical samples be submitted for laboratory testing at the Department of Medical Sciences or an accredited local facility.

Labeling Requirements for Food Products in Thailand

Thailand's labeling rules are detailed and specific. They are enforced at both the product registration stage and at the point of importation.

All labels for food products sold in Thailand must be in the Thai language. Specific requirements vary by product category, but the following elements are generally mandatory:

• Product Name: The name must clearly and accurately describe the product. For products with special designations (such as "low fat" or "fortified"), the name must reflect the approved product characteristics.
• Food Serial Number: For products that require registration, the 13-digit food serial number issued by the Thai FDA must appear on the label.
• Manufacturer or Importer Information: The full name and address of the manufacturer (for domestically produced goods) or the licensed importer must be displayed clearly.
• Net Weight or Volume: Quantities must be expressed in metric units (grams, kilograms, milliliters, liters).
• Ingredient List: All ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. Food additives must be identified by their functional class name and their specific name or INS number.
• Allergen Information: Common allergens must be clearly declared on the label. Thailand has expanded its list of declared allergens to include shellfish and squid.
• Expiration or Best Before Date: The date must be clearly stated. The format DD/MM/YYYY is acceptable, and English date formats may be used provided they are accompanied by the appropriate Thai-language indicator.
• Storage Instructions: Where relevant to the product type, storage and handling instructions must be provided.

For specifically controlled food such as food supplements, additional requirements apply, including specific warnings and disclaimer text. For products making nutritional or health claims, those claims must be substantiated. They must receive prior approval from the Thai FDA through a separate advertising license application.

Labeling on Certain Processed Foods

On May 2, 2025, Thailand issued MOPH Notification No. 456 B.E. 2568 (2025), which took effect on May 3, 2025. This notification formally repealed seven of the older product-specific MOPH notifications that previously governed Category 3 labeling for the following products: 

• Brown rice flour
• Instant jelly and jelly desserts
• Sauces in sealed containers
• Bread, chewing gum and candy
• Ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat food
• Meat products

These product categories are no longer regulated under their own individual labeling notifications. Instead, they must now comply with the general prepackaged food labeling framework for prepackaged food labeling and nutrition labels. 

Existing labels for these products may remain in use for up to two years from May 3, 2025. This gives you a transition window until approximately May 2027 to update packaging.

At the same time, two new mandatory on-label warning requirements are now mandated under this notification: 

1. Instant jelly and jelly desserts: Must carry the warning “Children should consume in small amounts”. 
2. Brown rice flour: Must display the statement "Do not use it as a substitute for milk for infants." 

Both warnings must be printed in red letters of at least 5mm in size, placed within a white frame on the label.

Advertising and Health Claims

If you intend to market your food product with specific claims about its quality, properties, or health benefits, you need to be aware that advertising food products in Thailand requires a separate license. This applies to any advertising media, including television, radio, print, billboards, and digital channels such as social media.

To advertise health or nutritional claims, you must submit an application for an Advertising License (Form SorBor. 4) to the Thai FDA. The license is valid for a maximum of five years from the date of approval, and all advertising materials must be made exactly as approved in the attachment annexed to the application. The advertisement approval number must also be visibly displayed in the approved advertising media.

Running a Facebook or TikTok campaign promoting your product's health benefits without first obtaining an Advertising License is a direct violation of Thai food law.

Get in touch with our local experts to navigate product compliance in Thailand. Book a free consultation via the form below.