Thailands Ministry of Public Health has issued a draft amendment to strengthen regulatory controls on personnel responsible for operations in facilities involved in the manufacturing, importation, sale, and storage of herbal products. The revised notification, issued under the Herbal Products Act B.E. 2562 (2019), aims to enhance consumer protection and align requirements with current industry practices.
This draft Notification revises the existing Notification of the Ministry of Public Health on prescribed qualifications, numbers, criteria, procedures, and conditions for persons on duty at herbal product facilities (B.E. 2565 (2022)). Key proposed changes include:
Clause 3: Expansion of qualification criteria for personnel responsible for operations at facilities producing and importing herbal supplements.
Clause 4: Expansion of qualification criteria for personnel responsible for operations at facilities producing and importing herbal substances (raw materials).
Clause 5: Introduction of mandatory training requirements, including:
Personnel must complete a training curriculum approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Certificates issued upon completion will be valid for five years from the date of issuance.
Personnel must undergo retraining before certificate expiration to maintain compliance.
In addition, the amendment broadens the pool of eligible professionals who may act as responsible operators. For oral herbal health products, this includes individuals with qualifications in food science, food technology, or related scientific fields, as well as those with at least three years of relevant experience. For external-use herbal products, eligible personnel may include those with backgrounds in cosmetic science or related disciplines.
The revised provisions also clarify requirements for personnel handling raw materials, allowing a wider range of qualified professionals such as Thai traditional medicine practitioners, applied Thai traditional medicine practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists, scientists, engineers, or trained personnel approved by the Thai FDA. At least one qualified individual must be designated, with qualifications aligned to the nature of the raw materials handled. Where operations occur at the same site, one individual may assume multiple roles, provided all qualification requirements are met.
The regulation will enter into force the day following its publication in the Government Gazette. These updates reflect Thailands continued efforts to strengthen oversight of the herbal product sector and ensure the competency of personnel across the supply chain.
Consumer News Region