G/SPS/N/THA/275  
 
1 Novem ber 2019  
(19-7343) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  THAILAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  - 
2. Agency responsible:  Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Pre-packaged foods (ICS Code: 67.040)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Spec ific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Draft MOPH Notification, No. … B.E. …. (....) , entitled 
"The Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs)" . Language(s):  Thai. Number of 
pages:  2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/THA/19_6126_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing to revise the 
MOPH Notification concerning "The Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs)" as 
follows:  
1. The Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 251 B.E. 2545 (2002), Re: 
Labelling of Food Products Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic 
Modifica tion/Genetic Engineering, dated 8 December B.E. 2545 (2002), shall be 
repealed;  
2. In addition to the general labelling requirements in accordance with relevant food 
labelling laws, food containing  or consisting of Genetically Modified Organisms  (GMOs) 
or pro duced from GMOs as the following below should be labelled:  
a) Food containing or consisting of Genetically Modified Plants (GM -Plants) five 
percent or greater than five percent (≥  5 %) for each ingredient;  
b) Food containing or consisting of Genetically Modified Animals (GM -Animals) five 
percent or greater than five percent (≥  5 %) for each ingredient;  
c) Food produced by using Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMs) ; 
3. The labelling requirements for GMFs:  
a) Where the food consists of only one ingredient, the text "Genetically Modified" 
shall appear on the label in conjunction with, or in close proximity to , the name 
of food;  
b) Where the food consists of more than one ingredient, the text "Genetically 
Modified" shall appear on the label in co njunction with, or in close proximity to, 
or under the name of ingredient;  
c) Where the food is produced from GM -plants or GM -animals or using GMMs, the 
text "[food name/product name] produced from [type of GMO]" shall appear on 
the label;  G/SPS/N/THA/275  
 
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  d) The words shall be prominent and readily legible. It shall be displayed in bold 
letter, colour contrast between text and its background and the space of label 
shall be proportionate;  
e) Additional labelling by displaying of symbol, the word "GMO" with black colour in 
a triangle  with yellow background , or text for providing the additional information 
to consumers through mobile phone applications or electronic or digital link 
disclosure , is voluntary ; 
4. Exemption from this regulation:  
a) Food products which can be proved that it is a non -GMO by traceability 
certification system;  
b) Food products produced by small scaled producers and directly sell to consumers;  
c) Food products prepared and sold by restaurants or vending vehicles;  
d) Food products which  do not contain an y detectable genetic material or protein 
resulting from genetic modification in the final product ( highly refined foods);  
5. Text of "Free from Genetically Modified Food" or "Non -Genetically Modified Food" or 
"Do Not Contain Constituents of Genetically Modifi ed Food" or "Segregated Genetically 
Modified Constituent" or any other similar text or symbols shall be prohibited by this 
regulation;  
6. Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs) which were allowed before the 
enforcement date of this regulation, can be sold in the market but not more than two 
years from the date this regulation came into forc e; 
7. This notification shall come into force after 180 days from its publication in the Thai 
Royal Gazette.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal he alth, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
1. CAC/GL 76 -2011: Compilation of Codex texts relevant to labelling of food derived 
from modern biotechnology  
2. CODEX STAN 1 -1985: Labelling of Pre -packaged Food  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 180 days after being notified in the Official Gazette.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/THA/275  
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 31 December 2019  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS)  
50 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao  
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900  
Thailand  
Tel: +(662) 561 4024  
Fax: +(662) 561 4034  
E-mail: spsthailand@gmail.com  
Websites:  http://www.acfs.go.th  
 http://www.spsthailand.net/  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
SPS Thailand Contact point  
E-mail: spsthailand@gmail.com  
Websites: http://www.spsthailand.net/