Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 420 (2020), on production methods, production equipment, and food storage, sets out the GMP criteria that form the basic legal requirement for every food production facility in Thailand — regardless of whether an operator additionally seeks international certification.
The Scope of Coverage
The criteria cover facility and building hygiene, production machinery and equipment, hygienic control of the production process, sanitation and maintenance, personal hygiene of personnel, and product storage and transport — comprehensively addressing both physical and procedural dimensions.
Varying Levels of Rigor
Operators should know that the FDA has set criteria with differing levels of rigor depending on facility size and type — larger facilities classified as factories under factory law face more detailed requirements than small or household-level producers. Operators should confirm from the outset which criteria correctly apply to their facility.
Connection to FDA Product Registration
Proper compliance with GMP 420 is a prerequisite before applying for a food registration number. This means operators cannot skip facility upgrades to meet GMP standards and proceed directly to product registration. Planning both processes together from the start is the most efficient approach.