Introduction
Thailand’s food supplement market continues to expand, driven by increasing consumer demand for health, wellness and beauty products. In Thailand, food supplements※1 are subject to a comprehensive regulatory framework administered by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand (the “Thai FDA”) under the Food Act of 1979 (the “Food Act”) and relevant Ministry of Public Health notifications.
Recent enforcement actions involving exaggerated advertising, misleading claims and fake or unsafe food supplement products have further underscored the need for business operators to ensure compliance throughout the product lifecycle, from formulation and product approval to labeling, marketing, distribution and post-market monitoring.
This newsletter provides a concise overview of the key regulatory requirements applicable to food supplements in Thailand, with a particular focus on facility and product licensing, labeling obligations, health claim restrictions, advertising compliance and recent enforcement trends that food supplement operators should consider when entering or operating in the Thai market.
Overview
Food supplements are classified as “food” and are primarily regulated under the Food Act. The Food Act sets out licensing requirements for food manufacturers and importers, while products manufactured or imported into Thailand may also require registration with the Thai FDA, depending on their classification.
The Food Act also authorizes the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (“MOPH”) to impose specific requirements on food categories that may pose health risks or require specific quality standards, including products intended for specific consumers or products making health-related claims.
Specific requirements for food supplements are further set out in MOPH Notification No. 293 Re: Food Supplements, dated 15 December 2005, as amended (the “MOPH Notification”). Food supplements are also subject to related regulations on advertising, health claims and nutrition labeling. Because these requirements overlap, they may be difficult for new market entrants to navigate. This newsletter therefore provides a concise overview of the regulatory framework, with the key legal requirements outlined below:
1. Facility License
Under Section 14 of the Food Act, any person wishing to establish a factory to manufacture food must obtain a license from the Thai FDA. Importers of food for sale in Thailand must likewise obtain an import license under Section 15 of the Food Act. These licenses are commonly referred to as the “Food Manufacturing Facility License” and the “Food Import Facility License”, respectively. A business operator must obtain the relevant Facility License before obtaining the Product License for each product it intends to manufacture or import (as discussed in Section 2 below).
Food manufacturing and import facilities must also comply with hygiene and safety standards prescribed under MOPH Notification No. 420 Re: Production Methods, Production Equipment and Food Storage, dated 3 December 2020. These standards are commonly referred to as “GMP 420”.
2. Product License
Under the MOPH Notification, a “food supplement” is classified as a food with prescribed quality or standards. Each food supplement manufactured or imported for sale in Thailand must therefore be approved by the Thai FDA based on its quality and labeling compliance (the “Product License”). Approved products will be assigned an FDA identification number and mark as evidence of approval, commonly referred to as an “FDA Food Serial Number”. The main requirements are summarized below:
(a) Quality
Food supplements must meet prescribed quality and safety standards. These include having characteristics appropriate to the product type, complying with Thai FDA limits on pathogenic microorganisms, and not exceeding applicable limits for microbial toxins, pesticide residues, toxic substances, contaminants, or veterinary drug residues under relevant MOPH notifications.※2 For products containing vitamins or minerals, the permitted types and maximum amounts must comply with the notification’s annexure, while the minimum amount must be at least 15% of the Thai Reference Daily Intakes (Thai RDIs) under the nutrition labeling regulation.※3
(b) Labeling
Food supplement labels must comply with MOPH requirements on the labeling of prepackaged foods,※4 including the display of key information such as the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, net quantity and expiry date. Labels must also include information specific to food supplements, such as a product name containing or accompanied by the term “food supplement”, together with any required warning statements or other statements prescribed in the relevant notification, (for example, “This food is not for weight control”).
(c) Health Claims
Health claims on food supplement labels must comply with the MOPH notification on health claims for foods.※5 Such claims must be based on generally accepted, up-to-date scientific principles and supported by sufficient evidence. Where required, claims must be accompanied by the statement “No effect on the prevention or treatment of disease”, including for certain claims relating to disease risk reduction.
3. Advertisement Permits
Under Section 41 of the Food Act, any person wishing to advertise the benefits, quality or properties of food through any media must first obtain an advertisement permit from the Thai FDA and may advertise only after the permit has been granted. Section 40 further prohibits advertisements concerning food benefits, quality, or properties that are false, misleading, or likely to cause consumers to believe in unsupported claims. The Thai FDA notification on food advertisements※6 also specifies prohibited statements for food supplements, including claims that imply the product can treat, relieve, cure, or prevent diseases, illnesses or symptoms; claims relating to skin nourishment or beauty enhancement; and claims that the product can firm the body, trap fat or produce similar effects.
Current Issues and Developments
Recent developments indicate that the Thai FDA has been proactively inspecting and monitoring the sales of food supplements, particularly in relation to exaggerated advertising, misleading online claims and illegal or unsafe products.
For instance, in March 2026, the Thai FDA announced enhanced surveillance of protein-content claims in food supplements, including nationwide sampling and testing to verify whether actual protein levels correspond to those stated on product labels.
In addition, the Thai FDA announced enhanced cooperation with public health networks, industry associations, advertising bodies, broadcasting organizations and online-related stakeholders to strengthen the monitoring of exaggerated food supplement advertising, particularly disease-treatment, weight-loss and sexual-performance claims promoted through social media. The Thai FDA has time and again emphasized that it is prepared to take decisive legal action against violators to protect consumers.
The same enforcement trend also extends to fake, unauthorized and unsafe health products. Public reports indicate that Thai authorities, including the Thai FDA, have pursued thousands of cases involving illegal health products and unlawful advertisements, blocked numerous unlawful online advertisements and seized substantial quantities of illegal goods. Authorities are also using digital tools such as AI and API integrations with major online platforms to enhance surveillance and enforcement.
Overall, these developments indicate that Thai authorities are adopting a more coordinated and enforcement-oriented approach to food supplement oversight, with particular attention to online advertising, substantiated product claims, label accuracy and consumer protection.
Conclusion
Food supplements present attractive opportunities in Thailand’s expanding health and wellness market. However, recent enforcement developments show that they are also an area of active regulatory scrutiny.
Accordingly, relevant stakeholders should ensure that each food supplement is properly approved, accurately labeled and supported by reliable evidence before being placed on the Thai market. They should also maintain internal controls for advertising review, e-commerce monitoring and distributor management. A proactive compliance approach can help reduce the risk of enforcement action, product recalls and consumer complaints, while supporting a safer and more sustainable food supplement business in Thailand.
Endnotes
*1
Under MOPH Notification (as defined below), “food supplement” is legally defined as “products consumed in addition to a normal diet, containing nutrients or other substances as ingredients, and presented in forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, liquids, or other forms that are not conventional foods, for consumers who expect health-promoting benefits.”
*2
See, e.g., MOPH Notification (No. 268) Re: Prescribed Standards for Some Chemical Contamination in Foods, dated 21 April 2003, as amended.
*3
MOPH Notification (No. 445) Re: Nutrition Labeling, dated 17 November 2023, as amended.
*4
MOPH Notification (No. 450) Re: Labeling of Food in Containers, dated 19 June 2024.
*5
MOPH Notification (No. 447) Re: Health Claims for Food on Labels, dated 17 November 2023.
*6
Thai FDA Notification Re: Criteria for Food Advertising, dated 25 March 2021.
