. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/THA/148 
9 May 2006 
 (06-2256) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  THAILAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  The Office of 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):  Low acid foods in hermetically sealed containers (ICS 67.040)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft MOPH 
Notification (No…..) B.E….. entitled "Food in He rmetically Sealed Containers (No 4)", 
(Available in Thai, 2 pages).  
6. Description of content:  The MOPH deemed it necessary to strengthen the measure on low 
acid food in hermetically sealed containers so as to prevent the contamination of Clostridium  
butolinum  on such food as canned bamboo shoot which can be life-threatening, whereas 
certain provisions of the MOPH notification No.144 (B.E.2535) entitled food in hermetically 
sealed containers dated 2 July, B.E.  2535 shall be revised as follows:  
1)  Food in hermetically sealed containers with pH > 4.6 must be free from growing microbes 
while keeping at ambient temperature, 
2)  Food in hermetically sealed containers with pH < 4.6 in which microbes could be found but 
at a limit controlled level as stipulated therein, 
3)  Food in hermetically sealed containers with  pH > 4.6  and water activity > 0.85 must either 
be treated through scheduled process at F 0 (sterilizing value) ≥ 3 min capable to destroy spore 
of Clostridium  butolinum  whereby prior test of heat dist ribution and heat penetration be 
conducted to determine the sche duled process under guidance of the Thai FDA or, be 
acidified until equilibrium pH ≤ 4.6 after heat treatment under guidance of the Thai FDA. 
4)  The application of Food Additives must be  in compliance with relevant provisions of 
MOPH pertaining to Food Additives.  
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   G/SPS/N/THA/148 
Page 2  
 
  8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  MOPH notification 
(No.144) B.E. 2535 (1992)  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  On the day after being notified in the Official Gazette.  
12. Final date for comments:  60 days after notification to WTO Members.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
National Bureau of Agricultural Co mmodity and Food Standards (ACFS) 
Division of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards Policy 3 Ratchadamnern-Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200 Thailand 
Tel:  (662) 629 8970 
Fax:  (662) 629 8978 Website:  www.acfs.go.th E-mail:  sps@acfs.go.th
 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
National Bureau of Agricultural Co mmodity and Food Standards (ACFS) 
Division of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards Policy 
3 Ratchadamnern-Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200 Thailand Tel:  (662) 629 8970 Fax:  (662) 629 8978 Website:  www.acfs.go.th 
E-mail:  sps@acfs.go.th