Thai FDA expands registration exemptions for herbal foot-bath and steam products

What changed

Three notices published by the Thai FDA Herbal Products Division (กองผลิตภัณฑ์สมุนไพร) in early September 2026 address registration exemptions, product conditions and technical evaluation.

First, the fifth amendment to the Ministry of Public Health notice adds herbal foot-bath and body-steam products to the exemption already covering herbal compresses (ลูกประคบ). Products meeting the prescribed conditions may fall outside the requirement for a registration certificate, detailed notification or notification. The amendment appeared in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect the following day.

Second, a Thai FDA notice sets manufacturing and import conditions for the three exempt categories. It covers the condition of dried herbal material, mould and foreign-matter controls, packaging, and label information such as product name, ingredients, claims, directions, contraindications, warnings, precautions, manufacturing date and manufacturer details. Permitted claims and mandatory safety wording differ by category, so the annex should be checked directly.

Third, the Ministry amended its framework for listing experts, specialist organisations, government agencies and private organisations that evaluate herbal-product technical files. It adds a definition of สถานประกอบการ covering places of manufacture, import, sale or storage, and provides for the Thai FDA Secretary-General to publish qualified evaluators and their scope. This notice appeared in the Royal Gazette on 2 September 2026.

Practical impact

An expanded exemption does not remove product review. Foot-bath and body-steam products must still fit the covered form and claim and meet the stated quality, packaging and Thai labelling conditions. Products making disease-treatment claims, or using forms and directions outside the notice, may require another regulatory route.

Manufacturers and importers should compare their formula, directions and current label against the annex. Applicants whose other herbal products require technical evaluation should also confirm the current evaluator list and the assessment scope assigned to each listed organisation.