Page 56 - FoodFocusThailand No.215 FEBRUARY 2024

STRATEGIC R&D

substances and put into capsules that are taken as dietary the function of the human body, or reduce the risk factors of a
supplements. However, due to its bitter and astringent taste, disease or substances intended for use as ingredients in the
Andrographis paniculata has not yet been processed and used manufacturing of herbal products according to the definition
in food products. Therefore, in developing food products specified in Section 4. Anyone who wishes to manufacture,
containing Andrographis paniculata, the taste is another import, or sell herbal products shall apply for approval for herbal
challenging issue that must be considered. products specified in Section 6 (1), apply for registration of
3. Stevia is a perennial herbaceous plant. Stevioside and herbal product recipes for herbal products specified in Section
rebaudioside A, two natural sweeteners found in stevia, are 6 (2), or apply for registration of herbal product details for herbal
respectively 300 and 450 times sweeter than sucrose. Due to products specified in Section 6 (3) by the criteria, procedures,
its properties, stevia is popular among health-conscious and conditions prescribed by law. Manufacturing, importation,
consumers and has been used in the food industry. At present, or sale of herbal products is only permitted once the licensor
stevia is used for consumption in 5 forms: dried leaves, stevia has granted a license, registered the recipes for the herbal
tea, fresh leaves, stevia powder, and stevia extract. Stevia products, or received notification in line with Sections 17, 34,
extract has been used as a sugar alternative or substitute. and 45.
Furthermore, stevioside has a high level of acid and heat In addition, no person shall advertise an herbal product or
resistance, making it suitable for applications in a wide range the benefits of an herbal product unless he or she is granted
of food and beverage products, including chewing gum, sauces, a license by the licensing authority by Section 70. No person
soft beverages, green tea, snacks, bakery goods, jams, and shall advertise an herbal product in the following manners: 1)
jellies. At least thirty nations have allowed the use of stevia as boasting that its health benefit or a material that is an ingredient
a sweetener, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, of an herbal product is able to miraculously cure, treat, relieve
New Zealand, China, Japan, and Korea, and is likely to be or prevent a disease or an illness, or which is based on personal
approved for use in more and more countries. Since 2002, the belief, or is able to completely cure a disease or using any
Ministry of Public Health of Thailand has allowed the wording to imply the same meaning; 2) claiming a health benefit
manufacturing and distribution of stevia (Notification of the that is false, exaggerating, or giving misleading information
Ministry of Public Health (No. 262) 2002 regarding stevioside about the health benefit of the herbal product; 3) creating an
and foods containing stevioside). Additionally, the Ministry has understanding that an herbal product contains a particular
permitted the use of steviol glycoside extract as a food additive material as an ingredient, when actually, there is no such
since 2013 (Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. material or ingredient in the herbal product, or it is present in
360) 2013 regarding steviol glycosides). As to the guidelines the product but not as much as the amount led to perceive in
set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United the advertisement; 4) the health benefit of an herbal product is
Nations and World Health Organization Codex 2010: JECFA guaranteed or praised by any person, any group of persons or
Monograph (2010) INS No. 960), stevia extract that is permitted any institution except for advertisements directed to medical
for use as a food additive must have a total content of steviol practitioners, dental practitioners, pharmacy practitioners, Thai
glycosides of not less than 95% of dried weight. traditional medicine practitioners, and applied Thai traditional
4. Magic mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis): The active medicine practitioners. An advertisement directly to the
substances found in magic mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis) practitioners of said professions requires a license under
are psilocybine and psilocine. Psilocybine is converted to Section 74.
psilocine once it is ingested. Due to the potent effects of Failure to comply with the above provisions of law, whether
psilocybine and psilocine on the nervous system, consuming in the manufacturing, importation, sale, or advertisement of
magic mushrooms causes intoxication and euphoria similar herbal products, is an offense and is subject to criminal
to those experienced while taking LSD (Lysergic Acid penalties, including imprisonment and fines, because herbal
Diethylamide). Magic mushrooms were once categorized as a products are products that affect the health of the public and
Category I Narcotic under the Narcotics Code when it was consumers.
determined that they had no medicinal value. However, a recent
study on the usage of magic mushrooms in the treatment of
depression found that these mushrooms produce four times
better treatment outcomes than the antidepressants that are More Information Service Info C008
currently in use. Although this mushroom is used in alternative
medicine in other countries, it is important to monitor whether เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
it will be unlocked from narcotic classification in Thailand, like กรมพััฒนาการแพัทย์์แผนไทย์และการแพัทย์์ทางเลือกกระทรวงสาธารณสุข,
cannabis and Kratom. แผนแม่บทแห่่งชาติิว่าด้้วย์การพััฒนาสมุนไพัรไทย์ ฉบับท่� 1 พั.ศ. 2560-
2564, สืบค้้นเมื�อวันท่� 2 มกราค้ม 2567, https://www.opsmoac.go.th/
Regulations for manufacturing, importation, sale sustainable_agri-knowledge-files-431291791818.
or advertisement of herbal products พัระราชบัญญัติิผลิติภััณฑ์์สมุนไพัร พั.ศ. 2562, มาติรา 4, ราชกิจจานุเบกษา
For anyone who wishes to operate a business related to the เล่มท่� 136 ติอนท่� 56 ก (02 มกราค้ม 2567): น. 121, https://www.krisdi
manufacturing, importing, or selling herbal products, the
considerations according to the Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 ka.go.th/librarian/get?sysid=833890&ext=pdf.
(2019) are as follows. กรมส่งเสริมการเกษติร, พัืชสมุนไพัร ภัูมิปััญญาไทย์, สืบค้้นเมื�อวันท่� 2 มกราค้ม
“Herbal products” means herbal drugs and shall also include 2567, https://esc.doae.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/%E0%B8%
Thai traditional drugs, developed herbal drugs, traditional drugs 9E%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%8A%E0% B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8
for use in humans under the law on drugs or drugs that are %B8%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3.pdf
derived from the knowledge of alternative medicine as กรมสุขภัาพัจิติ, “เห่็ด้ข่�ค้วาย์” ห่น่�งในย์าเสพัติิด้ให่้โทษ ถููกจด้สิทธิบัติรรักษา
prescribed and notified by the Minister, upon the recommendation “โรค้ซึ่มเศร้า”, สืบค้้นเมื�อวันท่� 2 มกราค้ม 2567, https://dmh.go.th/news-
of the Committee. It also includes products made from herbs dmh/view.asp?id=31281
or products of which active ingredients are herbs or are derived
from herbs that are ready for use in humans to improve their อาสาฬา เชาวน์เจริญ และผกากรอง ขวัญข้าว, “ฟ้้าทะลาย์โจรกับการระบาด้
health or the function of their body, strengthen the structure or ของโค้วิด้-19” ศูนย์์ห่ลักฐานเชิงปัระจักษ์ด้้านการแพัทย์์แผนไทย์และ
สมุนไพัร โรงพัย์าบาลเจ้าพัระย์าอภััย์ภัูเบศร, สืบค้้นเมื�อวันท่� 2 มกราค้ม
56 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND FEB 2024 2567, https://www.dmh.go.th/news/view.asp?id=2369

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