Thailand Notifies WTO of Five Food-Contact Draft Regulations

The Thai Ministry of Industry notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of five draft food-contact regulations on June 9, 2021. The draft regulations, which establish standards for various plastic utensils and plastic bags for foods, are described below.

1. Draft Ministerial Regulation on Plastic Bags for Food, TIS 1027-2564(2021), (G/TBT/N/THA/618) establishes a standard for food-contact plastic bags that are made from virgin resin. The bags are classified into three groups based on the end use: hot, cold, and frozen food. The standard specifies shapes, sizes, appearance, technical specifications, and safety requirements (e.g., overall migration and specific migration limits). It also includes requirements for packaging, marking, labeling, and sampling, in addition to criteria for conformity and testing.
2. Draft Ministerial Regulation on 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), (G/TBT/N/THA/619) establishes a standard for single-use and reusable “plastic containers and utensils in contact with food”. It classifies plastic utensils for food by the six types of plastics listed in the draft regulation’s title and specifies general requirements for materials, safety, packaging, markings and labeling, and sampling, in addition to criteria for conformity and testing.
3. Draft Ministerial Regulation on Plastic Utensils for Food - Part 2 Poly(Vinyl Chloride), Polycarbonate, Polyamide and Poly(Methyl Methacrylate), TIS 655 Part 2-2554(2011), (G/TBT/N/THA/620) establishes a standard for “food-contact plastic containers and utensils” made from the materials listed in the draft regulation’s title. It includes both single-use and reusable items. The standard separates plastic utensils based on conditions of use, i.e., high temperature, normal temperature, or chilling temperature. General requirements for materials and safety, and criteria for packaging, markings and labeling, and conformity and testing are specified in the standard.
4. Draft Ministerial Regulation on Plastic Utensils for Food - Part 3 Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and Styrene-acrylonitrile, TIS 655 Part 3-2554(2011), (G/TBT/N/THA/621) establishes a standard for “plastic containers and utensils in contact with food” made from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene-acrylonitrile. General requirements for materials and safety, and criteria for packaging, markings and labeling, and conformity and testing are specified in the standard.
5. Draft Ministerial Regulation on Microwavable Food Plastic Bag for Reheating, TIS 3022-2563(2020), (G/TBT/N/THA/622) establishes a standard for “microwavable food plastic bag for reheating”. The standard states that the product’s temperature resistance may not be less than 80°C. General requirements for materials and safety, and criteria for packaging, markings and labeling, and conformity and testing are also specified in the standard.

Comments on these draft ministerial regulations are due by July 15, 2021.