G/SPS/N/THA/221  
 
20 January 2014  
(14-0290)  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: Office of the Alcohol Control Committee, Department of Disease 
Control 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Alcohol beverages (ICS Codes: 67.160.10; 
HS Codes: 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, 2208) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Draft Notification of the Alcoholic Beverages Control, 
Re: Rules, Procedure and condition for Labels of Alcoholic Beverages  Language(s): 
Thai  Number of pages: 2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/THA/14_0123_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: The Draft Notification of the Alcohol Beverages Control, Re: 
Rules, Procedures and conditions for Labels of Alcohol Beverages, issued under .... B.E. ... is specified as follows: 
1. The labels of alcoholic beverages shall not use any message as follows: 
1) Messages which is are regarded as an unfair message to consumers or which 
include references to consequential social effects, even if these messages may 
relate to sources, condition, quality or characteristics of products or services 
including delivery, procurement or application of products or services.  
Messages which are regarded as an unfair message to consumers or which include 
references to consequential social  effects are defined as follows: 
a) A message which is false or exaggerated. 
b) A message which misleads consumers on the content of products or services 
although these messages may refer to an academic report, statistical data or 
unrealistic or exaggerated information. 
c) A message that directly or indirectly supports an illegality or morality or leads 
to discredit to the national culture. 
d) A message that leads to disharmony or prejudice. 
2) The message which directly or indirectly persuades consumption or pretentiously 
exaggerates the benefit or quality of an alcoholic beverage. 
2. Any of the following characteristics are cons idered to be included in Clause 1 (2): 
1) A message that introduces an attitude that drinking alcohol can lead to social and 
sexual success including health. G/SPS/N/THA/221 
 
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  2) A message using the picture of an athlete. 
3) A message using the picture of an artist or a singer. 
4) A message using the picture of a cartoon. 
5) A message that persuades or convinces consumers to purchase or consume in 
order to donate money to charity. 
6) A message that persuades or convinces consumers to participate in activities 
such as music, sports, contests or recreation. 
3. The draft notification shall not be applied to alcoholic beverages manufactured or 
imported for distribution out of the Kingdom of Thailand or for the purposes of 
testing, analysis or research with clear specification or for non-commercial benefits 
in the Kingdom. 
4. The labels that were used prior to the date  of enforcement of this notification can 
continue to be used for no more than one hundred and eighty days after this 
notification becomes effective. 
5. This Notification shall come into force from the day following the date of its 
publication in the Government Gazette. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? 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: 
The Alcohol Control Act B.E. 2551 (2008) 
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) : The day following the date of its publication in the Government 
Gazette. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/THA/221 
 
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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) : 21 March 2014 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Office of the Alcohol Control Committee 
Department of Disease Control 
Ministry of Public Health Tiwanon Road, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand 
Tel: +(662) 590 3032 
 +(662) 590 3035 Fax: +(662) 590 3032 E-mail: smarnf22@gmail.com 
kpk2553@hotmail.com 
 National Bureau of Agricultural Co mmodity and Food Standards (ACFS) 
50 Phaholyothin Road, Ladyao 
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Thailand 
Tel: +(662) 561 4024 
Fax: +(662) 561 4034  +(662) 561 4088 E-mail: sps@acfs.go.th 
Website: http://www.acfs.go.th  
13. Texts available from: [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 
 +(662) 561 4088 
E-mail: sps@acfs.go.th Website: http://www.acfs.go.th