In line with several other Asian countries, including Vietnam and South Korea, the Thai food regulatory authority is working to improve its labeling regulations to align with international standards. The Thai FDA aims to enhance the way expiration dates and allergen warnings are displayed on packaged foods.
One significant proposed change is the requirement for clearer allergen warnings and the ingredients that should carry such warnings. The agency states that the packaging should include a statement such as “Information on food allergies: Contains allergen XXX / There is Allergen XXX” if the potential allergen is an ingredient, or “Information on food allergies: There may be Allergen XXX / May contain Allergen XXX” to warn against possible contamination during production. It is crucial for this statement to be clearly and legibly demarcated near the ingredients list.
The main ingredients that tend to cause hypersensitivity and require these warnings include gluten, crustaceans, shellfish, eggs, fish, peanuts, soy, milk, nuts with hard shells, and products with a sulphite content of 10mg/kg or more. However, if the product already has a name that clearly identifies allergens or hypersensitive substances, such as fresh cow milk or crispy peanuts, the provision might be considered unnecessary.
Although Thailand has had regulations in place for allergen warnings since 2014, the Thai FDA has not specified the wording until this proposal, likely in order to prevent misleading declarations that could confuse consumers. This was a major concern following a 2021 study that found 7.22% of undeclared food allergens in the local food system, despite improvements since the initial enforcement of allergen regulations.
The Thai FDA also proposes standardizing expiration date formats. All manufacturers would need to use a specific day, month, and year for products with a shelf life not exceeding 90 days, and a specific month and year for products with a shelf life exceeding 90 days. Additionally, the label should include a statement either stating “Expiry date” or “Should be consumed before” to avoid confusion. If the date itself cannot be displayed prominently, the label should indicate where consumers can find it.
Public feedback on these proposed changes can be submitted until September 30, 2023, through an online form, the Thai FDA website, by mail, fax, or email. Additional information can be found on the Thai FDA website.
Overall, these proposed labelling improvements aim to align Thailand’s regulations with international standards, ensure clearer allergen warnings, and prevent misleading declarations. The standardized expiration date format will also enhance clarity for consumers.