Are Your Food Packaging Products Ready for Thailand’s New TIS Standards?

Thailand is introducing stricter requirements for food-contact paper products, marking an important regulatory shift for packaging manufacturers, food brands, converters, and exporters serving the Thai market. Beginning June 22, 2026, selected paper-based food packaging products will be required to comply with mandatory Thai Industrial Standards (TIS), replacing what was previously a voluntary framework. Manufacturers and importers of affected products will need to obtain the appropriate product licenses before placing their products on the market.

For businesses that supply food and beverage packaging across Southeast Asia, these changes highlight the growing focus on food-contact safety, chemical migration control, product traceability, and regulatory compliance. Understanding the scope of the new standards and preparing early can help businesses avoid disruptions while maintaining access to Thailand’s growing food and beverage sector.

What Are Thailand’s New Food Contact Paper Standards?

Thailand’s Ministry of Industry has designated two food-contact paper standards as mandatory:

TIS 2948-2562 (2019) – Paper for Food Contact
TIS 3438-2565 (2022) – Cooking Paper

For many food and beverage packaging companies, TIS 2948-2562 is likely the most relevant standard. It covers paper, paperboard, and paper containers intended for direct or indirect contact with food, including general food applications and hot-filled foods where there is potential for substances to migrate from packaging into food.

The standard focuses on product safety requirements, helping ensure that packaging materials do not compromise food safety during use. It also reflects a broader trend seen across global markets, where regulators are placing greater emphasis on food-contact materials and consumer protection.

Meanwhile, TIS 3438-2565 applies specifically to cooking paper products used in applications such as filtering hot liquids, reheating food, or cooking at temperatures up to 220°C. Unlike TIS 2948-2562, this standard imposes additional requirements on raw material selection, including restrictions on the use of recycled pulp.

Which Food Packaging Products and Businesses Could Be Affected?

The new regulations apply to food-contact paper products sold in Thailand, meaning the businesses most directly affected are those responsible for manufacturing, importing, or placing finished packaging products on the market.

These may include:

Packaging converters producing paper cups, bowls, trays, wraps, and containers
Food and beverage brands importing packaging for use in Thailand
Importers and distributors of finished food-contact packaging
Manufacturers of cooking paper and baking-related paper products

While paperboard suppliers may not be the primary certification holders under the regulation, they play an important supporting role by providing food-contact materials and technical documentation that can help downstream partners demonstrate compliance.

How Businesses Can Prepare for Thailand’s New Standards

Review Existing Packaging Specifications

The first step is understanding how current packaging materials align with the requirements of the relevant TIS standard.

Businesses should evaluate factors such as:

Raw material composition
Virgin and recycled fiber usage
Food-contact suitability
Potential migration risks
Product performance under intended food applications

Conducting an internal review can help identify potential compliance gaps before products reach the Thai market.

Understand & Verify Applicable Certification Requirements

Thailand’s new mandatory framework introduces licensing and certification obligations that did not previously apply to many food-contact paper products.

Manufacturers and importers should determine:

Which TIS standard applies to their products
Required testing and documentation
Product marking and labeling requirements
Licensing procedures for market entry

Because compliance requirements may vary depending on product type and intended use, early verification with qualified testing and certification partners can help reduce regulatory uncertainty.

Plan Ahead for Regulatory Timelines

Although the mandatory requirements take effect on June 22, 2026, compliance preparation should begin well before enforcement dates.

Testing, documentation reviews, certification processes, and supply chain adjustments often require significant lead time. Companies that wait until implementation deadlines approach may face delays that could impact product availability or market access.

Building compliance planning into packaging development and procurement strategies can help businesses maintain continuity while minimizing last-minute disruptions.

Partner with Packaging Suppliers That Support Compliance

Although certification responsibilities may primarily fall on packaging converters, manufacturers, importers, or food brands, choosing the right material supplier can make compliance significantly easier.

Packaging suppliers that provide food-contact documentation, technical support, and materials designed for regulatory requirements can help streamline compliance efforts throughout the supply chain.

For example, paperboard suppliers such as Foopak can support converters and food brands by providing food-contact paperboard solutions backed by technical expertise, helping customers prepare for evolving packaging requirements in markets such as Thailand.