Thailand - Draft Notification on the requirements for production processes, production equipments, storage and labelling of some fresh fruits or vegetables

Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) has issued draft Notification on the requirements for production processes, production equipments, storage and labelling of some fresh fruits or vegetables

For consumer protection, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is proposing the notification on good practice for packing house as follows:

6.1 The annex I of the draft MOPH notification indicates a list of some fresh fruit or vegetables              which shall be packed by proper operations.

6.2 The minimum requirements for packing house operations or good practices are summarized in       The annex II of the draft MOPH notification to assure that only safe fruits or vegetables shall            be collected, packed and distributed to consumer.

6.3 The importers who import such fresh fruits or vegetables as shown in the annex Ishall provide       good practice certificate of satisfaction as required under this notification or otherwise not               lower than the requirement of this notification.

6.4 The minimum requirements for retail labelling are that each display must clearly show the               following:

1)   Name and address of producer (packing house) or importer and country of origin

2)   RegistrationNumber

3)   Codeor Number of production lot

This information should be on the labelling of the original container. Where such fresh fruits or vegetables are presented to the consumer without packing, the required information must be clearly and prominently displayed on a label on the container or tray. If not the retailer should have a record on the required information that is accessible to consumers.

6.5 Those who received production or importing licenses for such fresh fruits or vegetables prior           to the enforcement of this ministerial notification, which do not comply with this ministerial             notification, shall provide for improvement or provide for certificates, as the case may be,               within one year from the date of entry into force of the notification.

        6.6 This notification shall come into force after one year as from the date of its publication in the                    Royal Gazette.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: One year as from the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette

Final date for comments: 40 days from date of circulation of notification.

If the Proposal/Notification/Regulation will affect your International Business please send us your representation with facts and figures before 20 February 2016, so that these can be taken up suitably.