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Exporting pet food from Thailand

In Thailand pet food is animal feed under the Animal Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2558, overseen by the Department of Livestock Development. Pet food is registered and made under licence; for export, the department checks quality against the destination's requirements and issues a health certificate to travel with the goods. Customs clears the export declaration.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Law
Animal Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2558 (2015)
Authority
Department of Livestock Development (DLD), feed and veterinary products division
Before sale
Registration of the pet food, and a manufacturing licence
For export
DLD quality checks and a certificate of health
Export declaration
Kor Sor Kor 101/1, filed electronically with the Customs Department

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is the pet food registered, and is the plant licensed to make it? Read more
  2. 2Which checks and certificate does the destination ask the DLD for? Read more
  3. 3Is the exporter registered with the Customs Department, or will a broker file? Read more
  4. 4Will the buyer claim a lower tariff, and which certificate of origin does that need? Read more
  5. 5Were imported ingredients or packaging used, and will you claim the duty back? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Feed registration and manufacturing

Pet food made in Thailand is animal feed under the Animal Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2558, which licenses those who produce, import or sell feed and registers products.

  • The DLD's Division of Animal Feed and Veterinary Products Control (AFVC) administers the Act.
  • Pet food is among the "especially controlled animal feed" that must be registered: complete pet food, complementary pet food, therapeutic pet food and supplements for pets.
  • Registration runs from the manufacturer's or importer's application, through document checks and review by a registration subcommittee, to approval and a certificate.
  • The DLD audits feed plants, issues the licence to manufacture animal feed, and runs GMP and HACCP certification.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate and permit with the shipment and lot it belongs to, dated, so the record for a consignment is in one place. Ask about this

Export checks and health certificates

For feed exported from Thailand, the DLD checks quality and issues a certificate of health that accompanies the goods.

  • The DLD's export quality checks named in its presentation are Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, dioxin and heavy metals.
  • The checks also follow the requirements of the target country, international trade standards and the Animal Feed Quality Control Act.
  • Where the goods conform, the DLD issues a certificate of health to accompany animal feed exported from Thailand.
  • The DLD names pet food and feed among Thailand's main livestock export products.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your certificates of origin and other export documents against what the destination asks for, and shows where they differ. Ask about this

Export declaration and customs clearance

Goods leave Thailand on an electronic export declaration filed with the Customs Department (กรมศุลกากร) under the Customs Act B.E. 2560.

  • The general export declaration is form Kor Sor Kor 101/1 (กศก. 101/1). It also covers goods leaving a bonded warehouse, goods claiming tax compensation or a Section 19 bis duty refund, and re-exports.
  • The exporter or its agent sends the declaration and invoice data electronically. Once the system accepts it, it issues a declaration number, and the exporter pays any duty and the declaration fee.
  • Documents to prepare are the invoice, a packing list, and an export licence or other document where the goods are controlled.
  • A declaration can be sent by an exporter registered with the Customs Department, by a customs broker, through a service counter, or on paper with a cover sheet at the customs house.
  • At the port the system marks each declaration green line (no inspection) or red line (inspection of tariff code, value and goods, by X-ray where available).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate and permit with the shipment and lot it belongs to, dated, so the record for a consignment is in one place. Ask about this

Certificates of origin and trade preferences

Where the buyer claims a lower tariff under a trade agreement, or the destination asks for proof of origin, the exporter applies for a certificate of origin.

  • The Department of Foreign Trade (กรมการค้าต่างประเทศ, DFT) issues preferential certificates under FTAs and GSP, such as Form D (ASEAN), Form E (China) and Form RCEP.
  • Non-preferential certificates are issued by the DFT, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
  • The DFT lists five online steps: check the basic information, register, apply for pre-export origin verification in ROVERs PLUS, prepare in DFT SMART C/O, and apply for the certificate through DFT SMART C/O.
  • Under ATIGA, the general rule is that goods are wholly obtained in Thailand, have at least 40% regional value content of the FOB price, or change tariff heading (four digits). A product-specific rule, where one is listed, is used first.
  • Proof of origin under ATIGA is an electronic Form D sent to the destination's customs through the ASEAN Single Window, a paper Form D only when the system fails, or an origin declaration by a certified exporter for registered goods.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your certificates of origin and other export documents against what the destination asks for, and shows where they differ. Ask about this

Duty refunds and compensation on exports

Exporters can recover import duty paid on materials used in exported goods, and tax and duty built into the cost of goods made in Thailand.

  • Section 29 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 refunds import duty on goods imported to be produced, mixed, assembled or packed into goods exported within one year of import. The refund is claimed within six months of export.
  • Machinery, moulds and other reusable tools, fuel and lubricants are not refunded under Section 29.
  • Under the Tax and Duty Compensation of Exported Goods Produced in the Kingdom Act B.E. 2524, compensation is paid as electronic tax coupons at rates published in the Royal Gazette.
  • To claim compensation, the exporter registers with the Customs Department, marks the export declaration (compensation "Y", privilege code 003 and its 14-digit registration number), and files form Kor Sor Kor 20/1 within one year of export.

How we help: Compliant Always shows which export documents are missing or about to expire before a shipment leaves. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Pet food manufacturerThe feed licence, product registration, GMP and HACCP, and the test results behind an export certificate.Registrations, licences and lab reports kept with each product and lot.
ExporterRegistering with the Customs Department, the export declaration, any licence for controlled goods, and the application for a certificate of origin.The licences, certificates and declarations for each shipment kept together, dated.
Department of Livestock DevelopmentRegistering pet food, licensing feed plants, export checks and certificates of health.Each certificate kept with the shipment and lot it covers.
Customs broker or freight forwarderFiling the electronic export declaration and transport documents for the exporter, where appointed.The shipment's documents in one record the broker can work from.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what pet food have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Is pet food regulated as food or feed in Thailand?
As animal feed, under the Animal Feed Quality Control Act B.E. 2558. The Department of Livestock Development's feed and veterinary products division administers it.
Does pet food have to be registered in Thailand?
Yes. Pet food is especially controlled animal feed, and complete, complementary and therapeutic pet food and pet supplements are registered with the DLD on the manufacturer's or importer's application.
Who issues a health certificate for pet food exported from Thailand?
The Department of Livestock Development. After its quality checks, it issues a certificate of health that accompanies animal feed exported from Thailand.
What does the DLD test pet food for before export?
Its presentation lists Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, dioxin and heavy metals, and any other requirement of the target country, international trade standards and the Act.
Does the DLD certify pet food plants for GMP or HACCP?
Yes. The DLD audits animal feed plants and issues GMP and HACCP certification, alongside the licence to manufacture animal feed, with new, monitoring and renewal audits.
How do I declare pet food for export from Thailand?
File an electronic export declaration (Kor Sor Kor 101/1) with the Customs Department with the invoice, packing list and any permit, yourself if registered or through a customs broker.
Which certificate of origin does pet food need for ASEAN?
Form D under ATIGA, issued electronically by the Department of Foreign Trade, if the buyer claims the ASEAN preference. The pet food must meet the ATIGA rules of origin.
Can I get duty back on imported ingredients used in exported pet food?
Section 29 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 refunds import duty on goods imported to be produced, mixed or packed into exports shipped within one year of import, claimed within six months of export.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from Thailand?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Thailand and what your paperwork needs to show.

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