UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION 
 
 
 
MINISTERIAL REGULATION  
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAI  AGRICULTURAL STANDARD ON   
GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTI CES FOR LAYER FARM 
AS A MANDATORY STANDARD  
B.E. 2563 (2020) 
 
By virtue of Section 5 paragraph one  and Section 15 paragraph two of the 
Agricultural Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), th e Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives 
hereby issues this Ministerial Regulation as follows: 
Section 1 This Ministerial Regulation sha ll come into force after five years as 
from the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette. Except for the commercial layer farm of 
at least 100,000 birds, farm shall come into for ce after one year as fr om the date of its 
publication in the Royal Gazette.   
Section 2 The Thai Agricultural St andard TAS 6909-2019 in accordance with 
the Notification of the Ministry  of Agriculture and Cooperatives  on the Establishment of Thai 
Agricultural Standard : Good Agricultural Prac tices for Layer Farm under the Agricultural 
Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) dated on 25th February B.E. 2562 (2019) shall be established 
as a mandatory standard. 
     
           Given on the 5
th February B.E. 2563 (2020) 
 
                         (Prapat Potasuthon) 
                                                    Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives 
                                  Acting Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives 
    
Remark :  Rationale for the promulgation of this Mini sterial Regulation is that :  Layer industry 
in Thailand has confronted with the problem on surveillance and monitoring of diseases, egg 
safety and quality control, domestic market ma nagement and international market access for 
eggs. A control of the management of commercia l layer farm of at least 1,000 birds is required 
thereof, in order to enhance  the good agriculture practices for layer farm, obtain good quality 
eggs which are safe for consumption  and increase the competitiveness of good agricultural 
practices for layer farm in Thailand. The Notif ication of the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Cooperatives on the Establishment of Thai Agricultural Standard on Good Agricultural 
Practices for Layer Farm has been establishe d under the Agricultural standard Act. B.E. 2551 
(2008), dated 25th February B.E. 2562 (2019), followed by pub lic hearing from stakeholders in 
accordance with Section 18 of th e Agricultural standard Act B.E. 2551 (2008).  It is deemed 
necessary to establish the Thai Agricultural Standard: Good Agricultural Practices for Layer Farm as a mandatory standard.    
  TAS  6909 -2019 
 1 
THAI AGRICULTURE STANDARD  
GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR LAYER FARM  
 
1. SCOPE  
1.1 This standard provides requirements on good agricultural practices for the management of  
commercial  layer farms of more than 1,000 birds,  covering farm components, farm 
management, animal feed, water, personnel management, animal health, animal welfare, 
pullet and brooder management, product management, environment and record keeping. This  
standard aims  to support the p roduction of good quality eggs and safe for consumption.  
1.2    This standard  does not involve layer farms that are certified under other standardization 
system issued by the Department of Livestock Development  (DLD)  such as Organic 
Agriculture part 2: Organic Livestock (TAS. 9000 vol. 2), Free -ranging layer fa rm. 
 
2. DEFINITIONS  
For the purpose of this standard : 
2.1 Layer means chicken of the scientific name Gallus gallus . This  breed lays eggs regularly 
for human consumption which cover both pullets and laying hens.  
2.2 Pullet means chicken at the a ge before start laying eggs . 
2.3 Laying hen means chicken of the appropriate age to lay egg until the hen is spent. The 
time periods of active laying hens are different, depending on breed.  
2.4 Layer farm means establishment for commercial layer farm of mo re than 1,000 birds.  
2.5 Layer house means the building of both controlled and uncontrolled environment used for 
layer hens.  
 TAS  6909 -2019 
 2 
3. REQUIREMENTS   
Requirements for Good Agriculture Practices for layer farm are described in Table 1 as 
follow:  
Table 1  Require ments for Good Agriculture Practices for layer  farm  
Items  Requirements  
1. Farm components   
1.1 Site 1.1.1 Locate in a risk -free environment from contamination 
of physical, chemical and biological hazards or provide 
sufficient  prevention measure . 
1.2 Farm layout  1.2.1  Allocate sufficient area for t he operation. The area 
should not be to large so it may cause environmental 
problem.  
 1.2.2  Clearly separate the operation area to facilitate the 
sanitation of the operation and animal hygiene.  
 1.2.3 Provide area for egg storage before moving eggs out o f 
the farm.  
1.3 Layer housing  1.3.1  Availability of housing layout, displaying the positions 
of all equipment.  
 1.3.2  Availability of adequate raising area, according to the 
principle of animal welfare.  
 1.3.3  Housing structure shall be sturdy, hygien ic and well 
ventilated. The structure should be easily cleaned and 
maintained. Layer house and egg collecting equipment shall 
facilitate egg gathering.  
2. Farm management   
2.1 Farm manual  2.1.1 Availability of standard operating procedure, 
illustrating t he details of important farm operation such as 
raising system, feed and water management , health 
management and animal welfare.  
2.2 Feed and water  2.2.1  Commercial feed and concentrates should meet its 
good quality and standard in compliance with the Fee d 
Quality Control Act and its amendments.  
2.2.2 In case of self -mixed feed are used or mixed with feed 
from article 2.2.1. Prohibit substances according to the Feed 
Quality Control Act and its amendments shall not be used.  
 2.2.3  Incoming feed inspectio n and preliminary quality 
check shall be in place. Feed shall be sampled and held for 
further laboratory testing in case of problem or suspicion.  
 2.2.4  Separate feed storage area. Keep feed in a condition 
that prevent deterioration and contamination.  
 TAS  6909 -2019 
 3 
Items  Requirements  
 2.2.5 Provide sufficie nt feed and water for layers . 
 2.2.6 Water for layer shall be clean. Result of water analysis 
shall be made available.  
2.3 housing and equipment  2.3.1  Clean and maintain layer house, equipment and surrounding 
area to be in good and  hygienic condition.  
 2.3.2  Clean and disinfect layer house and equipment after 
depopulation. The house should be vacated for sufficient 
amount of time  to prevent accumulation of pathogens, unless 
otherwise specified by the Department of Livestock 
Develop ment (DLD).  
 2.3.3  Egg gathering containers shall be appropriate and 
hygienic.  
 2.3.4  Clean and disinfect egg gathering containers every time  
before enter layer  housing area and after use.  
3. Personnel   3.1 Clearly assign duty and responsibility for ea ch personnel.  
3.2 Availability of sufficient number of animal husbandry 
supervisors or trained person and veterinarian who hold a 
certificate of poultry farm supervisor.  
3.3 All workers responsible  for layers caring must be trained 
to have sufficient  knowledge in farm management.   
 3.4 Operators/workers shall have good personal hygiene in 
order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  
4. Animal health   
4.1 Disease prevention and 
control  4.1.1 Provide prove or document that s pecify  source of layers . 
4.1.2 Availability of control measures, preventing disease 
introduction into farm by human, vehicle, equipment and 
animal carriers.  
 4.1.3 Availability of disease prevention program by farm 
veterinarian.  
 4.1.4  Monitor health of layer hens dail y and dispose carcass 
properly.  
 4.1.5 In case of disease outbreak or infected animal is 
suspected, follow the Animal Epidemic Act and its 
amendments.  
4.2 Disease treatment  4.2.1 Treatment should be done under supervision of veterinarian 
and adhere to the laws according to veterinary practices.  
 
 
TAS  6909 -2019 
 4 
Items  Requirements  
5. Animal welfare   5.1 Maintain the animals under the animal welfare principle.  
6. Pullets, laying hens and 
egg product management   
6.1 Pullets and laying hens  6.1.1  Randomly check for health, size and weight . 
 6.1.2  Separate pullets or laying hens that have abnormal 
phys ical condition, not healthy or smaller in size.  
6.2 Eggs  6.2.1  Remove abnormal egg, cracked egg of broken egg. 
Separate dirty egg or soiled eggs with manure to be cleaned.  
 6.2.2  Store eg gs away from sunlight with good ventilation or 
store eggs in temperature controlled room.  
 6.2.3 Use clean, well -ventilated vehicle for egg transportation.  
7. Environment  7.1 Appropriately dispose garbage, waste water, and other 
wastes, to prevent accumu lation of unpleasant odor and 
pathogens.  
 7.2 Prevent litter scattering after moving layer hens out of 
the farm (depopulation) .  
8. Record keeping   8.1 Availability of records on significant operations that 
affect animal health, disease prevention and e gg production.  
 8.2 Keep all records for at least 3 years.