,"On 30 July 2025, Thailand notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) of a new draft regulation on tea infusion under reference G/SPS/N/THA/795. The draft, issued by the Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979), proposes significant updates to the national standard for tea infusion products. This initiative aims to enhance consumer health protection and ensure fair trade practices by modernizing the list of raw materials permitted for tea infusion products. Key Amendments Definition of Tea Infusion Revised-“Tea infusion” is redefined as a product obtained from parts of plants and fungi that are processed by drying, rough grinding, or diminishing for consumption by boiling or infusing with water. Licorice Removed-The plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), previously listed as item No. 92 in the permitted raw materials list, is repealed. Expanded Plant List-New plants and plant parts, listed as items No. 202 to 311, are added to the annex of permitted raw materials for tea infusion. This significantly broadens the scope of allowable ingredients. Transition Periods for Industry 1.Products containing licorice (No. 92): Manufacturers/importers may continue to sell existing products for one year from the effective date. 2.Products containing newly listed plants (No. 202–311): Authorized products may remain in the market for two years from the effective date, after which full compliance with the new regulation will be mandatory. Implementation Date: The notification will take effect the day after its publication in the Royal Thai Government Gazette. The main rationale for this update is food safety. The Thai FDA and Ministry of Public Health determined that updating the permitted ingredients list would strengthen consumer protection while facilitating transparent and fair trade for herbal tea products."
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