Page 18 - FoodFocusThailand No.154 January 2019

SPECIAL TALK BY FDA
SPECIAL TALK BY FDA

The Most Recently Enforced Food Regulations
Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No.388) B.E.2561 (2018) Re:

Prescribed Prohibited Food to be Produced, Imported, or Sold

Well-established scientific evidences indicate that trans fatty acids displayed under the section of saturated fat of the nutrition facts table.
derived from partially hydrogenated oils concomitantly contribute to Trans fat information shall be governed by the same rounding rules
increased risks of coronary heart disease through heightened levels of as those applicable to saturated fat.
total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride as well as decreased - Text of “No trans fat” or any of similar nature must not be
amount of HDL cholesterol. With objective to protect consumers by displayed until the requirements and conditions of nutrient content
minimizing the risks of coronary heart disease, the Food and Drug claims for trans fat are completely prescribed by the Thai Food and
Administration (Thai FDA) thus issued the notification of the Ministry of Drug Administration.
Public Health (No.388) B.E.2561 (2018) Re: Prescribed Prohibited Food
to be Produced, Imported, or Sold wherein related important requirements Enforcement Period Notification of the Ministry of Public Health
and conditions are stipulated as follows: 4(No.388) B.E.2561 (2018) Re: Prescribed Prohibited Food to be
Produced, Imported, or Sold shall come into force from the 9 of
th
Partially hydrogenated oils and food containing partially January B.E.2562 (2019) in which food manufacturers, importers, or
1hydrogenated oils are prescribed as prohibited food to be sellers shall not henceforth produce, produce for export, sell, or import
produced, imported, or sold. This notification applies to the partially hydrogenated oils and food containing partially hydrogenated
following items: oils.
(1) “Partially hydrogenated oil” means vegetable and animal-based
oils and fats that have undergone the process of partial hydrogenation Punishment Selling of partially hydrogenated oils or food
wherein, as a result, trans fatty acids are formed. Oils and fats undergoing 5containing partially hydrogenated oils shall be deemed incompliant
other types of processes such as full hydrogenation, oil blending, and with this notification issued under Clause 6(8). Violators are, in
inter-esterification are not herein included. accordance with Clause 50 of Food Act B.E.2522 (1979), subject to
(2) Food containing partially hydrogenated oils and fats. imprisonment of between 6
months and 2 years and fine of
This notification expressly prohibits the production, import, or between THB 5,000 and THB
2 sale of partially hydrogenated oils and food containing partially 20,000.
hydrogenated oils but does not prohibit the detectably natural
presence of trans fatty acids in food products. For further information,
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 6please visit the Thai FDA’s
Nations (FAO), the maximum recommended daily intake of trans fat website. http://www.fda.moph.
should not exceed 1% of the recommended daily energy value (or go.th/sites/food/SitePages/
approximately 2 grams per day or 0.5 grams per serving size). While View.aspx?T=FoodNews
the FAO also states that the maximum intake of saturated fat should not &TF=1&IDdata=86
exceed 10% of the recommended daily energy value (or approximately
20 grams per day or 5 grams per meal). Since these fats remain the
main causes of cardiovascular disease, the consumption thereof needs
to be jointly controlled. กฎหมายที่เกี่ยวข้อง/Relevant Regulation
Communication guidelines on trans fat information for ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เลขที่ 388 พ.ศ.2561 เรื่อง ก�าหนดอาหารที่ห้ามผลิต น�าเข้า
3consumers หรือจ�าหน่าย ลงวันที่ 13 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2561 สืบค้นได้จาก http://www.ratchakitcha.
- Text of “No partially hydrogenated oils that is the main source of soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/166/5.PDF
trans fat” must be displayed in informational media for consumers via The Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No.388 B.E.2561 (2018) RE: Prescribed
Prohibited Food to be Produced, Imported, or Sold, dated 13th June B.E.2561
channels such as shop signs, product shelf signs, window display signs,
or printed media. Alternatively, the amount of trans fat must only be (2018) Available from: http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/E/166/5.PDF
18 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JAN 2019

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