Thailand does not yet have specific legislation governing biosafety. However, Thailand has national measures under other measures that can be used to partially implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as follows: Indirect Regulations - Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 (1964) Amended by Plant Quarantine Act (No.2) B.E. 2542 (1999) Plant Quarantine Act (No.3) B.E. 2551 (2008) - Medicine Act B.E. 2510 (1967) Amended by Medicine Act (No.3) B.E. 2522 (1979) Medicine Act (No.5) B.E. 2530 (1987) - Agricultural Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) - Pathogens and Animal Toxins Act, B.E. 2558 (2015) Regulations - Notification of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Re: Specification of Plants from certain sources as prohibited articles, of exceptions and conditions under the Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 (No.10) B.E. 2553 - Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No.345), B.E. 2555 (2012) Title: Prescribed Prohibited Foods to be Produced, Imported or Sold - Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 431) B.E. 2565 (2022) Issued by virtue of the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979) RE: Foods Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms. - Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 432) B.E. 2565 (2022) RE: Labeling of Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms - Notification of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Re: Prescribing Species of Aquatic Animals Prohibited from Farming in the Kingdom, B.E. 2564 (2021)) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food, Standard: Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology B.E. 2549 (2006) (TAS 9010 - 2006) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard: Assessment of Possible Allergenicity B.E. 2549 (2006) (TAS 9011 – 2006) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard: Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants B.E. 2549 (2006) (TAS 9012 - 2006) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard: Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Produced Using Recombinant-DNA Microorganisms B.E. 2549 (2006) (TAS 9013 - 2006) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard: Food Safety Assessment of Food Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants Modified for Nutritional or Health Benefits B.E. 2562 (2019) (TAS 9053 - 2019) - Notification of the National Committee on Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Subject: Thai Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard: Food Safety Assessment in Situation of Low-Level Presence of Recombinant–DNA Plant Material in Food B.E. 2562 (2019) (TAS 9054-2019) Guidelines - Biosafety guideline for work related to modern biotechnology and genetic engineering - Biosafety guideline for contained use of genetically modified microorganisms at pilot and industrial scales - Manual for GM plant import and confined experiment permission request During the reporting period (2020–2025), Thailand integrated biosafety considerations into national sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, policies, and legislation. At the national level, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning incorporated biosafety into the National Biodiversity Action Plan B.E. 2566–2570 (2023–2027), particularly under Target 7, which addresses access and benefit-sharing and biosafety considerations in the utilization of genetic resources. In the food safety sector, the Food and Drug Administration applies relevant definitions and risk assessment principles through the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 431) B.E. 2565 (2022) on Foods Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms, issued under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979), to assess risks to human health from GMOs used directly as food and also regulate labeling through Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 432) B.E. 2565 (2022) RE: Labeling of Food Derived from Genetically Modified Organisms In addition, the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards is developing a national agricultural commodity standard on guidelines for assessing the safety of food derived from DNA-generated animals, which is currently under consideration for approval following stakeholder consultation.

Thailand has specific laws governing drugs and vaccines (live vaccines), namely the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967) and its amendments, and the Ministry of Public Health Announcement on the details of criteria and methods for the production of modern medicines and amendments to the criteria and methods for the production of traditional medicines under the Drug Act B.E. 2567 (2024). Appendix 2 defines “biological agents” as: “Microorganisms, including genetically engineered microorganisms, cell cultures, and endoparasites, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic.”

Thailand as a member of ASEAN is implementing ASEAN GM Food Testing Network. It is established for ASEAN countries to exchange information on GM crop testing technology, research and development (R&D), as well as decisions regarding the utilization of GM crop in each country.

Thailand has a framework for risk assessment and risk management of living modified organisms (LMOs) based on relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines (voluntary), implemented through 42 Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) in government, private, and academic institutions. During the reporting period (2020–2025), risk assessments were conducted only for genetically modified organisms intended for use as food. Detection, identification, and monitoring measures are implemented by competent authorities. The Department of Agriculture detects LMOs at the plant quarantine stations, monitors LMOs in the environment , audits GMO testing laboratories in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and is developing a matrix testing approach and certified reference materials. The Food and Drug Administration conducts monitoring at import points and post-market surveillance of food products, with analyses performed by the Department of Medical Sciences or ISO 22000–certified laboratories. The Department of Medical Sciences has capacity for GMO screening and event identification in FDA-authorized plants. The Department of Fisheries conducts document and physical inspections of imported living modified aquatic animals.

The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, as the national focal point for the Cartagena Protocol, is responsible for emergencies contact point. As of this reporting period (2020-2025), no cases of transboundary movement of LMOs that could cause environmental damage in the country have been reported. Provisions for handling emergencies or severe impacts on biodiversity caused by LMOs have been stipulated in the (Draft) Biodiversity Act B.E. ....

Certified laboratory for LMOs detection: - GMOs Analysis Laboratory (Department of Agriculture) - DNATEC Laboratory (Kasetsart University) - Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food (Department of Medical Sciences) - Central Laboratory (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - ALS Laboratory Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - SGS Laboratory (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Intertek Testing Services Laboratory (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Asia Medical and Agricultural Laboratory and Research Center - Overseas Merchandise Inspection Co., Ltd (Bangkok Branch) - NSTDA Characterization and Testing Service Center (National Science and Technology Development Agency)

Summaries of food risk assessments and decisions information of GM-maize and GM-soybeans for food are the records in the BCH. In case GM-microorganisms for processing, Thailand are currently in the process to publish information because the relevance documents still have the confidential information.

During this reporting period, Thailand has strengthened its biosafety capabilities through support from relevant agencies in exchanging experiences and receiving training/workshops in biosafety and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), such as: the Department of Agriculture exchanged knowledge and experience on GMOs with ASEAN countries and trained plant quarantine personnel in the use of GMO papaya test kits for random sampling, the Department of Fisheries provided training on GMOs to personnel to enhance their understanding and ability to identify GMOs based on phenotypic characteristics such as fluorescence and the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning discussed on biosafety implementation and national capacity-building needs, prioritizing key areas are 1) public awareness, participation and education in biosafety 2) risk assessment and other scientific and technical expertise and 3) technology transfer.

Thailand has established mechanisms to promote public awareness, education, and public participation in biosafety-related decision-making in accordance with Article 23 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Public participation is facilitated through a public consultation mechanism for decision-making on activities involving living modified crops. This mechanism is stipulated in the Department of Agriculture’s regulations on criteria and methods for gathering public opinions on field trials conducted in government plots, including the organization of public hearings. Public access to information on LMOs and biosafety is supported through several platforms, including: (1) the Thailand Biosafety Clearing-House (https://bch.onep.go.th), established by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) as the National Focal Point for the Cartagena Protocol; (2) the Biosafety Clearing-House on Food (https://food.fda.moph.go.th/bch), established by the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health; and (3) the websites of competent national authorities, which provide relevant biosafety information and contact channels. Biosafety education is mainly provided by universities with Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs). In addition, Kasetsart University offers a doctoral-level course on “Biosafety and Bioethics,” and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) provides an e-learning course on biosafety guidelines for work related to modern biotechnology and genetic engineering. During the reporting period (2020–2025), Thailand conducted awareness-raising activities, including biosafety publications, training and seminars, and surveys on public knowledge and opinions related to biosafety.

During this reporting period (2020-2025), Thailand also imported GM corn/soybeans (grains) from the United States, which is non- Party to the Cartagena Protocol, for direct use as food, animal feed, and as raw materials in manufacturing processes (LMOs-FFP). Food safety assessments were conducted according to the Ministry of Public Health Announcement (No. 431) B.E. 2565 (2022) issued under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979) concerning food derived from genetically modified organisms.

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Medical Sciences are collaborating with ASEAN countries on the identification of genetically modified crops, forming the ASEAN GM Food Testing Network.