Thailand FDA Updates Nutrition and Food Labelling Rules and Compliance

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced significant amendments to nutrition and food labelling regulations, reshaping how packaged foods must present nutritional information, allergen declarations and label design. The changes were published in the Royal Gazette in December 2025 and reflect an effort to modernize labelling rules while addressing practical challenges linked to packaging formats and printing technologies.

The updated requirements took effect in mid-December 2025, with transition periods available for certain provisions. Packaging producers, brand owners and importers supplying the Thai market will need to review label layouts and compliance strategies carefully.

 

New Notifications Reshape Thailand’s Nutrition Labelling Framework

The FDA issued two Ministry of Public Health notifications under the Food Act B.E. 2522:

• Notification No. 466 B.E. 2568 on foods requiring nutritional labelling and Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA)
• Notification No. 467 B.E. 2568 on nutrition information labelling

These notifications replace earlier annexes and clarify technical requirements for how nutritional information must be displayed. Both entered into force on 12 December 2025, allowing immediate use of the updated formats.

 

Key Changes to GDA Labelling Requirements

Under Notification No. 466, Thailand updated the rules governing front-of-pack GDA displays for energy, sugar, fat and sodium.

Key changes:

• Greater flexibility in border and line colors, provided they contrast clearly with the label background
• Continued requirement for clear, legible text, placed prominently on the front of the package
• A general requirement for a white background inside the GDA symbol

Exceptions now apply for certain packaging formats where technical constraints exist, including:

• Large outer packaging
• Multipacks or bundled products
• Corrugated cardboard boxes

In these cases, alternative background colors may be used if readability is maintained.

 

Improved Consistency Between GDA and Nutrition Information Panels

The amended rules also improve alignment between GDA symbols and the nutrition information panel.

Manufacturers may now:

• Use terms such as “total sugar” instead of “sugar”
• Use “total fat” instead of “fat”, where appropriate
• Match nutrient terminology across all nutrition-related label elements

This change aims to reduce consumer confusion and create consistency across front- and back-of-pack information.

 

 

Nutrition Information Panel Rules Clarified

Notification No. 467 revises technical requirements for the nutrition information panel.

Updated rules include:

• Mandatory use of a white background for the panel
• Text and borders must be:
  • Clearly legible
  • In consistent colors
  • Sized according to prescribed minimum font requirements

As with GDA labelling, exemptions apply for large or bundled packaging where white backgrounds are technically impractical, provided visibility and legibility are preserved.

 

Proposed Amendments Expand Mandatory Food Labelling Content

In parallel, the FDA has published a draft amendment proposing broader changes to food labelling regulations. These proposals would further affect packaging design and information layout.

Expanded Allergen Declarations

The draft introduces additional allergens that must be declared, including:

• Sesame
• Celery
• Mustard
• Lupin

It also requires individual identification of tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, and others.

 

Revised Rules for Food Additives

Proposed changes would:

• Require clearer identification of additive functions
• Allow disclosure of multiple technological functions where relevant
• Exempt certain substances from declaration, including carriers and packaging gases

 

Voluntary Digital Labelling Introduced

The proposed amendment also introduces digital labelling as a voluntary option for eligible foods.

Under the draft rules:

• Full labelling information may be provided digitally
• Core information must still appear on the physical package

Digital labelling would not be permitted for:

• Infant formula and infant foods
• Foods for special medical purposes
• Dietary supplements
• Foods with added extracts, nutrients, or synthetic substances

 

Transitional Periods for Industry Adjustment

To support implementation, the FDA has included transition periods allowing continued sale of non-compliant labels for up to three years, depending on the product and packaging type. This gives industry time to update label designs, printing processes, and regulatory documentation.

 

Conclusion: Clearer Rules and Higher Expectations for Packaging Compliance

Thailand’s latest FDA amendments reflect a broader shift toward clearer, more flexible and internationally aligned food labelling rules. For the packaging industry, the changes balance improved design flexibility with more detailed requirements for nutrition, allergens and consumer information.

As further amendments move through consultation, companies supplying packaged foods to Thailand should assess label layouts early and plan for both immediate compliance and future regulatory developments.