Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 262) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Stevioside and Foods Containing Stevioside

(Unofficial) Notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 262) B.E. 2545 (2002) Re: Stevioside and Foods Containing Stevioside. It deems appropriate to prescribe the use of Stevioside, intense sweetener, which is a product extracted from Stevia, to be use as ingredient in foods for weight control. By the virtue of provisions of Section 5 and 6(1) (2) (4) (5) and (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. Stevioside which is extracted from Stevia, Stevia Rebuadiana Bertoni, is prescribed to be specific controlled foods. Clause 2. Stevioside shall be of qualities or standards as follows: (1) Stevioside content not less than 80% by weight. (2) Moisture content not more than 6% by weight. (3) Heavy metal content (to be calculated as lead) not more than 10 mg. per 1 kg. (4) Residual of methyl alcohol, to be used as processing aid, not more than 50 mg. per 1 kg. (5) Free of pathogenic microorganisms. (6) Free of yeast and mold. Clause 3. Foods containing Stevioside shall be used for weight control according to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 121 B.E. 2532 (1989), Re: Weight-control Foods, dated 23rd May B.E. 2532 (1989). Clause 4. Labels of Stevioside shall follow to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health related to labels, except for Clause 3, 4, and 5 of the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 194) B.E. 2543 (2000), Re: Labels, dated 19th September B.E. 2543 (2000), which is amended by the notification of the Ministry of Public Health (No. 252) B.E. 2545 (2002), Re: Labels. (No. 2), dated 30th May B.E. 2545 (2002), shall follow to Clause 5 and 6 of this notification. Clause 5. Labels of Stevioside for sale to consumers shall be expressed in Thai texts, but may also be accompanied by foreign texts and shall be expressed as follows: © 2003 FDA, MOPH. (1) Name of food “Stevioside” with accompanied declaration of “Extracted from Stevia”. In case of trade name is being used, the declaration of “Stevioside which is extracted from stevia” shall be accompanied. (2) Food serial number. (3) Names and addresses of producers or re-packers of Stevioside which is produced within the country; names and addresses of importers and country of producers, as the case may be. For Stevioside which is produced within the country, names and addresses of head offices of producers or re-packers may be expressed instead. (4) Net weight shall be expressed in the metric system. (5) Month and year of manufacture; or date, month, and year of expiration for consumption; or date, month, and year of food which is in good qualities or standards shall be accompanied by declarations of “Manufacture”, “Expire”, or “Consume before” consequently, as the case may be, and date, month, and year shall be respectively expressed. In case where month is expressed, such month may be alphabetically expressed. (6) Instruction for usage. (7) Declaration of “Artificial sweetener” shall be accompanied to the name of food by alphabets height of not less than 3 mm. (8) Declaration of “For adult only”. Clause 6. Labels of Stevioside which is not intend to sell to consumers shall be expressed in Thai texts, except for imported Stevioside may be expressed in English texts, and shall declare as stipulated in 5(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (7) including declaration of “Use to mix with foods for weight control only” by alphabets size to be clearly seen. Clause 7. Labels of foods containing Stevioside shall not only to follow to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health related to labels and notification of the Ministry of Public Health No 121 B.E. 2532 (1989), Re: Weight-Control Foods, dated 23rd May B.E. 2532 (1989), but also to include declaration of “Use of Stevioside which is extracted from Stevia” with alphabets size to be clearly seen. Clause 8. This notification shall come into force as from the day following date of its publication in the Government Gazette. Notified on 26th September 2002. © 2003 FDA, MOPH. Signed Sudarat Keyurabhun (Mrs. Sudarat Keyurabhun) Minister of Public Health (Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 119, Special Part 91 Ngor, dated 30th September 2002.) 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.