Exporting Cosmetics to Thailand: Thai FDA Notification and Labels

Who files the notification, and the place of import

Section 14 of the Cosmetics Act requires anyone who manufactures for sale, imports for sale or contract-manufactures cosmetics to notify the Thai FDA (จดแจ้งเครื่องสำอาง) and receive a notification receipt (ใบรับจดแจ้ง) first. The notifier must be a Thai national aged 20 or over or a juristic person registered in Thailand, so a foreign brand works through a Thai importer, distributor or subsidiary.

Before its first notification, the importer's place of import (สถานที่นำเข้า) must pass an FDA inspection, and so must any new or relocated premises. The rules are in the Ministry of Public Health Notification on criteria, methods and conditions for manufacturing or importing cosmetics B.E. 2561 (2018). The government procedure guide lists no fee and about 20 days.

The receipt belongs to the Thai notifier, not to you. Agree in the distribution contract who holds the notifications and what happens if you change importer.

Filing in e-Submission: fees, timing and renewal

Notifications are filed in the FDA e-Submission system (privus.fda.moph.go.th), or at the FDA One Stop Service Center or a provincial public health office. Users log in with a Digital ID linked to a Thai national ID card, and a company files a power of attorney naming the people who may act for it.

The importer completes Form Jor.Kor. 1 (แบบ จ.ค.1) with the product and formula details. The government guide lists a THB 100 application fee, a THB 900 notification receipt fee and an e-Submission data charge of THB 500 for 1 to 5 formulas per application (up to THB 2,000 for 16 or more), plus THB 50 a page for any attachments. Amounts can change, so check the payment slip.

A complete filing that meets the FDA criteria gets its receipt in about 3 working days; files that need label or expert review take longer. The receipt is valid for 3 years from issue. Renewal can be filed within 180 days before expiry; after expiry, late renewal is possible only within one month and with a daily fine.

Documents the brand owner supplies

For an imported product, the FDA criteria require a letter of authorisation issued by the manufacturer or the product owner. It must name the brand and state how the issuer relates to the product, for example as its manufacturer. The FDA publishes a sample letter.

You also supply the original formula issued by the manufacturer, listing every ingredient by INCI name with its percentage and function; colourants are listed by CI number. Documents in languages other than Thai or English need a translation certified by a reliable body.

Neither the FDA criteria nor the government procedure guide lists a Certificate of Free Sale, and copies need only be signed as true copies. Some importers still ask for a CFS, a GMP certificate or a notarised letter, so confirm their list before you order these.

Ingredients: Thai lists and the ASEAN annexes

Ingredients are controlled by Ministry of Public Health notifications that follow the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive annexes. A formula must contain no prohibited substance and must meet the limits and conditions set for the others:

These lists changed several times in 2025 and 2026, most recently in May 2026, usually with a transition period for products already on sale. A further draft to match recent ASEAN updates was open for comment until 8 July 2026. A changed formula needs a new notification; an FDA guideline revised in October 2025 lets you keep the original product name in defined cases.

• Prohibited substances (ASEAN Annex II)
• Restricted substances and their conditions (Annex III)
• Permitted colourants (Annex IV)
• Permitted preservatives (Annex VI)
• Permitted UV filters (Annex VII)
• Label warnings required for certain substances

Thai labels and the notification number

Section 22 of the Act requires labels in Thai, easy to read and not misleading. They must show the name and trade name; for imports, the importer's name and address with the manufacturer's name and country; quantity; directions; cautions and warnings; manufacturing date; expiry date (required when the shelf life is under 30 months); batch number; and all ingredients.

The notification number also goes on the label. It reads AA-B-CC followed by a running number: a province code, the notification type and the Thai Buddhist-era year. Buyers can check it on the FDA website. Other languages may appear too, but the name and product type on the label must match the notification.

Shipping, advertising and duties after launch

Ship only after the receipt is issued. For each import for sale, the importer files a License per Invoice (LPI) through the National Single Window, then presents the goods at the Food and Drug Checkpoint (ด่านอาหารและยา) with the import declaration, invoice, bill of lading or air waybill, LPI, power of attorney and a sample for inspection. Keep product names identical on the invoice, packing list and notification; Triplicate's free invoice and packing list generator and HS code lookup can help.

Cosmetic advertising needs no FDA licence, but it must not be false, exaggerated or misleading, or claim to treat disease. The FDA's advertising guideline, revised in 2024, gives examples, and you can ask the FDA for an opinion on an advert first.

After launch, the notifier keeps the product information file (PIF) and reports adverse effects under Ministry of Public Health rules. The FDA can revoke a notification if the filed data prove inaccurate or the product does not comply.