Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing major updates to the way bottled water, ice, mineral water, and certain beverages are regulated. The proposed changes, currently under consultation, would set stricter contaminant limits, allow digital QR-code labeling, and reclassify carbonated water as “drinking water” instead of “beverages.”
According to several news sources, the reform is intended to improve consumer safety and reduce environmental waste. By allowing QR codes or embossed labels in place of printed stickers, the FDA hopes to cut down on plastic and ink contamination in recycling. Lower thresholds for chemical contaminants would bring Thailand’s standards closer to global norms.
A variety of bottled water brands displayed in Bangkok as Thailand’s FDA prepares new safety and labeling regulations for the industry Photo Courtesy Perfect Homes
Once approved, the new regulations will be published in the Royal Gazette and become law. Beverage producers will have one to two years to adjust. Large companies are expected to adapt smoothly, while smaller bottlers may face higher costs in testing and packaging updates.
Consumer advocates have welcomed the stricter health standards but stress that enforcement will be key. Provincial monitoring capacity has been uneven in the past, and experts warn that without consistent checks, the new rules could be applied unevenly across the country.
If fully enforced, the changes would mark the most significant overhaul of Thailand’s beverage regulations in years — reshaping everything from supermarket shelves to local street stalls.
