TISI Certification Thailand

Thai Industrial Standards (มอก., TIS) come in two kinds: compulsory standards, whose observance is mandated by Royal Decree (พระราชกฤษฎีกา), and voluntary standards, for which a mark can be obtained if wanted. Only products under a compulsory standard need a licence before import. Voluntary-standard products can be imported without certification, and products for which TISI has not yet written a standard are outside the system altogether.

The decision is made on the scope clause of the standard, not the HS code. The same "electric kettle" can fall under a different standard depending on rated voltage or intended use, and one product may carry both a safety standard and an energy-efficiency standard. The product groups Doosigan handles most often:

Compulsory designation is added and revised product by product through Royal Decrees, so the table is a starting point, not a verdict. In the consultation we check the current decree list and the latest edition of the standard.

TISI issues three licences: the licence to display the standard mark (Mor.1), the domestic manufacturing licence (Mor.3) and the licence to import for sale (Mor.5). Bringing a foreign manufacturer's product into Thailand calls for Mor.5, filed through E-license (i.tisi.go.th). The common conditions come down to three: the factory's quality-control system passes assessment, sample test results conform to the standard, and the licensee complies with the licence conditions.

The point most often missed is the applicant. The applicant and holder of Mor.5 is the business that imports and sells in Thailand — the Thai importer. The foreign manufacturer or brand headquarters is the party tested and audited, not the party holding the licence. The licence number and the importer's name also appear on the product label.

The commercial effect is significant. A licence obtained in one distributor's name becomes a problem when the relationship with that distributor ends. The Act has a transfer procedure (Mor.9), but it needs the transferor's cooperation. Brands that intend to work with several distribution partners therefore decide who holds the licence before testing starts. License holding under Doosigan's Thai entity exists to solve exactly this.

Samples not intended for sale clear customs under a separate import permit. For a small sale limited to a single invoice there is a one-time import licence (Mor.5/1), but only for products listed in specific inspection criteria and subject to quantity caps.

Testing is done at a body TISI has designated for that standard. The list places Thai institutions — MASCI, the Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI), the Electrical and Electronic Products Testing Center (PTEC), the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI), the Thailand Textile Institute (THTI), TISTR — and global laboratories such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek and TÜV differently for each standard. No single laboratory covers every product, and some bodies may test only certain items of a standard or within a limited measurement range. That is why the designation table is checked before commissioning.

Before samples ship to Thailand, TISI's sample import permit is obtained with the invoice, packing list, waybill and product specification. Without it, a compulsory-standard product stops at customs. Once samples reach the laboratory, results are reported by the laboratory directly to TISI.

The role of overseas reports and CB test reports should be stated plainly. TISI is a National Certification Body in the IECEE CB Scheme, but acceptance of the CB certificate as such is limited to products TISI has listed in a separate notification. For other products, an overseas report serves as a reference for identifying the differences from the Thai standard (voltage, frequency, national deviations). Separating what is already covered from what must be tested in Thailand is what makes the test plan accurate.

Importing a compulsory-standard product for sale requires the foreign factory's quality-control system to pass assessment. The criteria are set by a TISI notification of 2021 (B.E. 2564), and the audit is carried out at the factory by TISI staff or a designated inspection body (IB). The auditors' travel schedule and visas and the factory's readiness often determine the overall timeline, so the audit is scheduled at the same time as the test order.

Once a foreign factory is registered with TISI, subsequent imports can substitute a LoC issued for that registered factory in place of the on-site audit. The registration criteria are set in a separate notification and the registration has a validity period that must be renewed. A change of site or manufacturing process brings the factory back into assessment.

We are often asked whether an ISO 9001 certificate exempts the factory from audit. TISI has separate criteria for accepting quality-management-system certification results and looks at the issuing body, the accreditation framework and whether the certificate scope covers the relevant production process. A certificate does not create an automatic exemption, and further evidence or an on-site check can be requested depending on the standard and product.

The licence is not the end. Each import of a compulsory-standard product is registered in TISI's NSW (National Single Window): product name, type and specification, quantity, factory and country of manufacture, exporter, HS code, invoice number and storage location, referencing the licence number for each item — and the data passes to the Customs Department. If there is no licence, or some models fall outside its scope, the entry goes to a separate review in which TISI officers examine the reason for import.

After issue there is TISI surveillance, and a confirmed nonconformity can lead to suspension or revocation and product disposal procedures. What comes up more often in practice is change: adding models, changing components, relocating the factory (Mor.8), transferring the licence (Mor.9) and replacing a lost licence (Mor.7) each have their own form and procedure. When a standard is revised, licensed products may need retesting against the new edition, so Doosigan tracks revision notices and applies them to projects in progress.

• Filing in the manufacturer's name. The applicant is the Thai importer. Starting tests before the holder structure is fixed leaves you with a report and no one able to file.
• Treating a CB certificate as the end of testing. CB acceptance is limited to listed products. For the rest, national-deviation items are retested in Thailand.
• Shipping samples as ordinary cargo. A compulsory-standard product arriving without an import permit is held at customs.
• Reporting added models after the fact. Models outside the licence scope fail NSW registration. File the amendment before shipment.
• Scheduling the factory audit after testing. The two run in parallel. Doing them in sequence doubles the timeline.
• Assuming ISO 9001 waives the audit. Acceptance depends on the certificate's issuer and scope and on the standard.

For this product category, we coordinate overseas manufacturer documents with the Thai applicant's existing licenses, product scope and distribution plan. We review new models, label changes and renewal or amendment needs before filing. The applicant and permit scope are assessed for each project.

Where needed, explore Thailand license holding or Importer of Record services alongside your product requirements.