The Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) hosted the 39^th Meeting of the ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Product Working Group (TMHS PWG) and Related Meetings from 18–21 May 2026 at Nikko Bangkok Hotel. The meeting aimed to strengthen regional cooperation on standards, regulatory frameworks, and oversight systems for traditional medicines and health supplements among ASEAN Member States. By promoting regulatory harmonization, the initiative is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the regional health products industry while ensuring a high level of consumer protection.

Ms. Supattra Boonserm, Secretary-General of the Thai Food and Drug Administration, stated that Thailand's appointment as host reflects the country's important role as one of ASEAN's leading manufacturing hubs for traditional medicines and health supplements, as well as the international confidence in Thailand's health product regulatory system.
Secretary-General emphasized that the Thai FDA remains committed to continuously modernizing its regulatory framework and standards to keep pace with technological advances, innovation, and emerging trends in the health industry. These efforts support the Ministry of Public Health's health economy policy while strengthening the global competitiveness of Thai health products. The meeting featured discussions through three key ASEAN bodies
1. the Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Product Working Group (TMHS PWG);
2. the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Task Force; and
3. the ASEAN Traditional Sciences Committee (ATSC).
These groups play a vital role in advancing harmonized ASEAN standards and technical requirements, reducing technical barriers to trade, facilitating import and export procedures, and promoting a regulatory environment that supports sustainable growth of the regional health products industry.

The harmonization of regulations with ASEAN frameworks and international standards is expected to enable Thai businesses to operate more efficiently, expedite market access, and expand export opportunities, thereby generating greater economic value for the country. At the same time, it will strengthen consumer protection by ensuring that people throughout ASEAN have access to health products that are safe, of high quality, and manufactured to consistent standards. Furthermore, Thailand will benefit from enhanced regulatory expertise and human resource development through exchanges of technical knowledge and regulatory experience with ASEAN Member States, Heads of Delegation, experts from the ASEAN Secretariat, and other partner organizations. These collaborative efforts will contribute to the sustainable growth of ASEAN's health economy, the Secretary-General concluded.