When designing or selecting packaging for products and services, aside from the details that entrepreneurs need to specify on paper boxes, corrugated boxes, or other packaging formats to indicate the identity of the product and brand for customers, some details must also comply with packaging laws as set forth by the government.

Packaging Laws Entrepreneurs Should Know

As consumers become more health-conscious and society becomes more aware of environmental issues, laws related to packaging have been enacted to protect entrepreneurs from unintentionally breaking the law. The following are key packaging-related laws that every entrepreneur should be aware of:

1. Measurement Act B.E. 2466

This act was created to protect consumers by ensuring they receive products in the correct quantity. Entrepreneurs must specify the amount or quantity on the paper box or label the packaging as required by law.

2. Food Act B.E. 2522

The main points of this act are divided into two parts: registering food recipes and registering food labels.

2.1 Registering Food Recipes: Producers or importers of regulated foods must register the food recipe before production or importation. Violating this can result in a fine of up to 20,000 baht or a prison sentence of up to two years, or both a fine and imprisonment.

2.2 Registering Food Labels: Regulated foods that require specific labeling must first register and obtain approval for the label before production. Only after obtaining approval can the label be applied to the packaging of the food or beverage product.

Authorities Responsible for Packaging Laws

1. Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce
2. Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health
3. Consumer Protection Board, Office of the Prime Minister
4. Industrial Standards Institute (ISI), Ministry of Industry

Government Agencies Responsible for Packaging

1. Agricultural Industry Division, Office of Industrial Development, Department of Industrial Promotion – Responsible for providing advice and support to improve production techniques, as well as offering industrial data and information to businesses.
2. Packaging Division, Industrial Promotion Department – Responsible for advising, promoting, and developing packaging for entrepreneurs, such as designing paper boxes, corrugated boxes, or selecting suitable molded paper for packaging.
3. Design Service Center, Department of Industrial Promotion – Responsible for designing four major export products: leather goods, jewelry, plastic products, and toys.
4. Thai Packaging Research Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency – Focuses on supporting national packaging policies, enhancing organizational capacity to meet entrepreneurs’ needs, collecting and sharing information on packaging science and technology, and coordinating between producers and users both locally and internationally.
5. Food Product Research Institute, Kasetsart University – Focuses on controlling the quality of food products for domestic consumption and export, cooperating with both public and private sectors in research, studies, and training in food science and technology.

Packaging laws are essential for entrepreneurs or business owners who are planning to create their own product brand. Understanding these laws not only helps in the design of food and beverage packaging but also provides valuable insights that benefit business operations in various areas.