The competent authority governing pet food regulation in Thailand is the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC). Pursuant to the Animal Feed Quality Control Act, the DLD oversees the full lifecycle regulation of pet food, including manufacturing, importation, sales and quality supervision. All product registrations and import permits for pet food are reviewed and issued by this department.
Official Website of the Regulatory Authority: http://www.dld.go.th
Animal Feed Quality Control Act, B.E. 2525 (1982), and its Second Amendment (No.2), B.E. 2558 (2015)
Per the regulatory provisions issued by the DLD, all pet foods are classified as Especially Controlled Animal Feed, which is subject to mandatory registration prior to market access. Pet food products are further subdivided into three distinct categories as follows:
1.Complete Pet FoodDefinition：Dry food, wet food and other formulations that satisfy all daily nutritional requirements of companion animals and can be fed as the sole staple diet.Registration Requirement：Mandatory registration
2.Complementary Pet FoodDefinition：Nutritionally incomplete products that must be fed alongside other staple feeds, mainly including pet treats, dental chews, biscuits and similar items.Registration Requirement：Mandatory registration
3.Therapeutic Pet FoodDefinition：Veterinary prescription diets intended for disease prevention or adjunctive treatment, which must be administered under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian.Registration Requirement：Mandatory registration
Local Importer / License Holder Requirement A locally incorporated Thai enterprise must act as both the product importer and the official holder of the product registration certificate. This legal entity shall possess a valid import permit issued by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD).Mandatory Individual Product Registration A separate Registration Certificate for Specifically Controlled Animal Feed shall be filed for each unique SKU, differentiated by distinct formulations, brand names and flavour variants.Manufacturing Facility Qualification Standards Production plants may undergo official DLD audit or furnish documentary evidence of compliance with Thailand’s GMP specifications, subject to product categories. Stringent thermal processing criteria are enforced for goods containing animal-derived raw materials (for example, pet treats must undergo heat treatment up to 90°C).Official Health Certificate from Country of Origin The competent government authority of the exporting nation (such as China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs or its authorised subordinate institutions) must issue an animal health certificate strictly complying with the official template stipulated by DLD.
All documents not written in Thai (such as English manufacturing procedures and ingredient lists) must be accompanied by certified Thai translations. Critically, product labels intended for retail sale within Thailand must be printed in the Thai language.
Preparatory Qualification Work Appoint a licensed Thai local importer and verify that the manufacturing facility satisfies official facility criteria including mandatory heat treatment standards.Official Document Submission The designated Thai importer submits the full registration dossier either via DLD’s electronic portal or in-person at physical service counters.Laboratory Sample Testing DLD may require product samples to be dispatched to its designated accredited laboratories for analytical testing covering composition, microbiological safety and general hazard assessment.Label Compliance Review DLD conducts a formal compliance audit of the submitted Thai-language label artwork against national regulatory standards.Certificate Issuance Upon successful completion of all technical reviews and laboratory testing, DLD issues the official feed registration certificate.The full end-to-end registration cycle generally ranges from 1 to 6 calendar months. Straightforward complementary pet treats typically complete registration faster within 1 to 2 months, whereas therapeutic prescription diets containing novel raw materials or functional health claims require extended review periods of 4 to 6 months.
1.Enterprise Qualification DocumentsCopies of the Thai importer’s business registration certificate and DLD import permitManufacturer’s business license and production establishment permit
2. Product Technical DossiersComplete product formula: Full breakdown of all raw materials (including additives) with exact percentage values or allowable content rangesManufacturing process flow chart: Incorporating full heat treatment specifications (temperature and holding time parameters)Product specification sheet: Nutritional composition analysis with guaranteed nutrient levels
3. Official Regulatory CertificatesAnimal Health Certificate: English or Thai language health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (e.g., China Customs), complying fully with DLD’s official format requirementsCertificate of Free Sale (required under certain circumstances)
4. Packaging and Labelling MaterialsLabel artwork: Draft design or physical photographs of Thai-language product labels compliant with Thai feed regulationsOriginal export packaging: Scanned copies or photos of the product’s original packaging used in the country of origin
5. Laboratory Test ReportsSafety analytical reports: Test certificates issued by accredited laboratories covering microbiological hazards, heavy metal residues, mycotoxins and other safety indicators