Roles and Responsibilities


The Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) is responsible for protecting and safeguarding public health from risks associated with the use and consumption of health products by ensuring their quality and safety. It also promotes appropriate health product consumption and use through the provision of reliable, evidence-based scientific information, enabling the public to use health products safely, appropriately, and effectively.

The Thai FDA has the following duties and powers:

  1. Implement and enforce relevant laws, including laws governing the prevention of volatile substance abuse, the National Food Commission, medical devices, cosmetics, herbal products, drugs, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, hazardous substances, and food, as well as other applicable laws.
  2. Develop systems and mechanisms to ensure the effective enforcement of laws under the responsibility of the Thai FDA.
  3. Surveillance, regulate, and inspect the quality and standards of health products, establishments, and health product advertising, as well as monitor adverse effects associated with health products. Develop the national chemical safety system and serve as a central coordinating body for cooperation with international organizations on chemical safety. Monitor and track information and developments related to health products at both national and international levels.
  4. Conduct studies, analyses, and research, and develop knowledge, technologies, and operational systems to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of consumer protection relating to health products.
  5. Promote and empower consumers to make informed decisions in selecting and using health products appropriately, safely, and cost-effectively, and to exercise their rights by filing complaints to protect their interests.
  6. Develop and promote consumer protection initiatives relating to health products through the participation of government agencies, local administrative organizations, the private sector, the public, and public health networks.
  7. Strengthen international cooperation in health product consumer protection to safeguard consumer health and advance the national interests of Thailand.
  8. Perform other duties and exercise powers as prescribed by law or as assigned by the Minister or the Cabinet.


The primary role of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) is to protect public health by ensuring the quality, safety, and, where applicable, efficacy of health products under its regulatory responsibility. These include food, drugs, psychotropic substances, narcotics, medical devices, volatile substances, cosmetics, hazardous substances, and herbal products.

The Thai FDA carries out its regulatory responsibilities in accordance with the following national laws and other applicable legislation:

1. Drug Act, B.E. 2510 (1967) and Amendment No. 2 (1975), No. 3 (1979), No. 4 (1985) No. 5 (1987) and No. 6 (2019)

2. Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979)

3. Hazardous Substance Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) and Amendment No. 2 (2001), No. 3 (2008) and No. 4 (2019)

4. Medical Device Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) and Amendment No. 2 (2019)

5. National Food Commission Act, B.E. 2551 (2008)

6. Cosmetic Act, B.E. 2558 (2015)

7. Herbal Product Act, B.E. 2562 (2019)

8. Act Promulgating the Narcotics Code, B.E. 2564 (2021)