5 Mandatory Standards for Food Contact Materials in Thailand

Thailand published some new requirements regarding Food Contact Materials (FCMs) which will enter into force on January 3, 2023. The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) published these five mandatory standards in the Royal Gazette on April 8, 2022 to  replace some previous voluntary standards as described below:

• Plastic utensils for food part 1 – polyethylene, polpropylene, polystyrene, poly (ethlene terephthalate), poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (methyl pentene) – TIS 655 Part 1-2553 (2010) 
• Plastic utensils for food part 2 – poly (vinyl chloride) polycarbonate polyamide and poly (methylmethacrylate) – TIS 655 Part 2-2554 (2011) 
• Plastic utensils for food part 3 – acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene-acrylonitrile – TIS 655 part 3-2554 (2011) 
• Plastic food containers for microwave oven part 1 – for reheating – TIS 2493 Part 1-2554 (2011) and 
• Plastic food containers for microwave part 2 – for single reheating –TIS 2493 Part 2-2556 (2013). 

Details on the types of plastics permitted in the FCMs utensils and containers are provided in all five standards, and they have as well specified migration limits for ingredients used. The date of entry is the deadline for concerned companies to ensure the products’ compliance with the new standards. A product conformity assessment process is necessary, after which the conformity mark shall be placed on labels and packaging, once certified.

Without a conformity mark, the products will be banned from the market introduction and/or importation to Thailand. Fabricated marks – namely, products with marks without a legally approved conformity assessment are considered non-compliant and liable to penalties.