Thailand initiates consultation over proposed revision to law on food containers.
Published: 17 Mar 2026
Author: Precedence Research
On February 11, 2026, the Thailand Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) announced a consultation regarding amendments to regulations issued under Ministry of Public Health Announcement No. 92 (B.E. 2528 (1985)). Thailand has initiated a public consultation on a proposed revision to its longstanding regulations governing food containers, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s food packaging safety framework. The proposed changes aim to strengthen chemical safety standards, broaden regulatory coverage, and better align the nation’s food contact material regulations with evolving international practices. Stakeholders, including manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and industry associations, have been invited to review and comment on the proposal during the consultation period.
The proposed amendment introduces a revised regulatory structure designed to improve oversight of chemicals used in materials that come into contact with food. Under the new framework, stricter requirements will be applied to substances used in packaging materials to ensure they do not pose potential risks to consumer health. In addition to reinforcing chemical controls, the proposal expands the scope of the regulation beyond plastic containers. The updated rules would formally include packaging materials made from metal, glass, paper, and ceramics, reflecting the wide range of materials commonly used in modern food packaging.
Another key component of the proposal is the requirement for food container materials to comply with relevant national standards. Specifically, the regulations will require adherence to standards issued by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, particularly those governing chemical safety and material quality. The Thai FDA also plans to issue separate regulatory announcements for different material types in the future. This approach is expected to make regulatory updates more flexible and allow authorities to respond more quickly to new scientific findings or emerging safety concerns.
The proposed revision also introduces more detailed requirements for certain materials. For example, the rules would strengthen safety standards for ceramic containers, including tighter controls on heavy metals such as lead and cadmium that may migrate into food. At the same time, the scope of regulation for certain metal-coated articles would be removed, while clearer rules would be established for metal, glass, and paper containers used in food packaging applications.
Authorities say the update is intended to improve food safety oversight and ensure that Thailand’s packaging regulations keep pace with global developments in food contact material standards. Once finalized, the revised regulations are expected to be published in the official government gazette, after which a transition period will allow manufacturers and packaging suppliers time to comply with the new requirements. Industry experts note that the reform could encourage stronger compliance practices across the packaging sector while helping protect consumers by ensuring safer food container materials in the marketplace.
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