Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 251) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Labelling of Food Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification / Genetic Engineering

(Unofficial) Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 251) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Labelling of Food Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification / Genetic Engineering. To provide information to the consumer concerning food obtained through certain techniques of Genetic Modification/ Genetic Engineering. By the virtue of provisions of Section 5 and Section 6(10) of the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979), in which contain provisions in relation to the restriction of Rights and Liberties of the Persons, in respect of which Section 29 and in conjunction with Section 35, Section 48 and Section 50 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand so permit by virtue of provisions of law; the Minister of Public Health hereby issues the notification as follows: Clause 1. Soybean and soybean products, corn and corn products, which obtained through certain techniques of Genetic Modification / Genetic Engineering shall be subjected to labelling. Clause 2. The food under Clause 1 means soybean and soybean products, corn and corn products, as listed in the attachment of this notification, which contain recombinant DNA or protein resulting from gene technology from 5 percent up of each top three main ingredients in terms of the ration of weight they occupy, and each weight ration accounts for five or more percent of the total. Clause 3. The label of food under Clause 1 shall: 3.1 be subjected to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health of certain products. 3.2 be subjected to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 194) B.E. 2543 (2000), Re: Labels, dated 19th September B.E. 2543 (2000), with the exception of Clause 3(1) name of foods and Clause 3(5) name of ingredients shall be as follows: (a) For food which contains only one main ingredient, its label should provide the statement of “Genetically Modified” in conjunction with, or in close proximity to, the name of foods under Clause 1 such as “Genetically Modified Corn”, “Tofu produced from Genetically Modified Soybean”, etc. © 2003 FDA, MOPH. (b) For multi-ingredient foods, its label should provide the statement of Genetically Modified” in conjunction with, or in close proximity to, or under the names of top three main ingredients of food product such as “Genetically Modified Corn Starch”, etc. The above statements shall be in clearly and readable manner displayed which the sizes of lettering and spaces shall be in good proportion to areas of the labels. Clause 4. The statements in Clause 3 shall not apply for small producers who produce and directly sell to consumers. “Small producers” refer to the small producers who produce and directly sell to consumers in a restricted area and also could provide information directly to consumers. Clause 5. To protect the consumers from misleading of labelling, following statements including “Free from Genetically Modified Food” or “Non Genetically Modified Food” or “Do Not Contain Constituents of Genetically Modified Food” or “Segregated Genetically Modified Constituent” or any other similar statements shall be prohibited. Clause 6. This notification shall come into force after the lapse of one year from the day following date of its publication in the Government Gazette. Notified on 8th April 2001. Signed Sudarat Keyurabhun (Mrs. Sudarat Keyurabhun) Minister of Public Health (Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 119, Special Part 42 Ngor, dated 10th May 2001.) Annex to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 251 B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Labelling of Food Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/ Genetic Engineering. 1. Soybean 2. Cooked soybean 3. Roasted soybean 4. Canned or bottled or retort pouch soybean © 2003 FDA, MOPH. 5. Natto (fermented soybean) 6. Soybean paste 7. Tofu (soybean curd) and fried tofu 8. Dried soybean curd, soybean refuse, yabu 9. Soybean milk 10. Soybean flour 11. Food containing item 1 to 10 as a main ingredient 12. Food containing soybean protein as a main ingredient 13. Food containing green soybean as a main ingredient 14. Food containing soybean sprouts as a main ingredient 15. Corn 16. Popcorn 17. Frozen or chilled corn 18. Canned or bottled or retort pouch corn 19. Corn flour / corn starch 20. Corn snack 21. Food containing item 15 to 20 as a main ingredient 22. Food containing corn grits as a main ingredient Note: This English version of the notification is translated to meet the need of the non-Thai speaking people. In case of any discrepancy between the Thai original and the English translation, the former will take priority. © 2003 FDA, MOPH.