Recently, Thai society was shaken by a tragic incident. A 10-year-old boy was electrocuted at home. He was using a cheap hair dryer purchased from TikTok. The device sold for only 89 baht (approximately 19 RMB). It had no Thai labeling, no certification mark, and had not been approved by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). It has been labeled a “three-no appliance” — no brand, no importer, and no safety assurance.
Reporters who inspected the product found that the hair dryer’s handle carried only a Chinese label, with no Thai-language instructions and no TISI certification mark. The product merely indicated “220V” as its voltage, without any information on the manufacturer, importer, or warranty — a typical example of a non-compliant imported item.
Local residents observed that online platforms now flood the market with cheap electrical appliances lacking quality assurance. “Many people buy them just because they are inexpensive, not realizing that these products offer no safety guarantee — they are literally gambling with people’s lives,” one resident said.
In fact, this case is not unique. In recent years, Thai market regulators have repeatedly seized non-TISI-certified electrical products such as fans, rice cookers, electric kettles, and hair dryers. E-commerce sellers often sold many of these items without registering as importers or conducting safety testing.
What is TISI?
TISI (Thai Industrial Standards Institute) is an agency under Thailand’s Ministry of Industry, responsible for overseeing the quality, safety, and standard certification of industrial products. Accordingly, in Thailand, certain electrical appliances are subject to mandatory TISI certification, including:
1.Portable household appliances such as hair dryers, electric irons, and electric kettles;
2.Electrical components such as wires, cables, plugs, sockets, and extension cords;
3.Household devices such as rice cookers, electric fans, and refrigerators.
Manufacturers or importers must obtain TISI certification for products that fall under the mandatory certification scope before they can legally sell them in Thailand.
Selling uncertified products violates the Thai Industrial Product Standards Act (B.E. 2511) and may result in the following penalties:
1.A fine of up to 500,000 baht, imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both;
2.Online platforms that allow uncertified products to be listed may also be held liable.
E-commerce Sellers: How to Sell Legally and Compliantly?
For e-commerce sellers operating in or targeting the Thai market, product compliance has become a key focus of both government and platform supervision. To legally sell electrical products, sellers should follow these steps:
1. Determine Whether the Product Falls Under Mandatory TISI Certification
You can check the TISI official database or consult a local Thai compliance agency to confirm the applicable product standard number (for example, hair dryers fall under TIS 1509-2547).
2. Apply for TISI Certification Under a Thai Company
Only a Thai-registered legal entity can hold a TISI certificate. If you do not have a local company, you may entrust a Thai partner or professional agency to apply on your behalf. The certification process generally includes:
（1）Product application submission
（2）Laboratory testing
（3）Factory inspection
（4）License issuance
3. Ensure Import and Labeling Compliance
（1）Each imported batch of electrical goods must be declared by the licensed company.
（2）Product packaging must include Thai-language labels, specifying product name, model, voltage, manufacturer, importer, and safety warnings.
（3）The label must display the TISI number, for example: “มอก. 1509-2547.”
4. Platform Documentation and After-Sales Obligations
Platforms such as TikTok Shop, Shopee, and Lazada now require sellers to upload:
（1）TISI certification documents
（2）FDA/DIW/TISI registration numbers (depending on product category)
（3）Thai importer registration information
In addition, sellers must provide after-sales service details or customer service contact information; otherwise, the platform reserves the right to remove the product listing.
How Can Consumers Protect Themselves?
1.Always check the packaging or nameplate for the “มอก.” mark before purchasing electrical appliances to ensure the TISI number is printed.
2.Choose reputable platforms and brands: Avoid products that are excessively cheap or lack Thai-language labels.
3.Parents should strengthen safety education: Children should be supervised when using electrical appliances, and plugs, switches, and wires should be checked for safety.
The Thai Ministry of Industry (TISI), Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), and Department of Business Development (DBD) have launched a joint mechanism to strengthen market supervision:
1.Establish a compliance certification sharing system for e-commerce platforms, requiring mandatory certification products to upload valid certificates;
2.Build a blacklist database to track and remove uncertified products and non-compliant sellers;
3.Promote real-name verification for online merchants and importer registration systems.
In the future, online platforms will not allow e-commerce sellers to list products without valid TISI certificates or compliant labeling.
As regulations tighten and platform accountability increases, compliance is no longer optional—it is the foundation for survival. We urge all exporters, e-commerce sellers, and brand owners to complete TISI certification, Thai labeling, and importer registration before entering the Thai market.
If your products are preparing to enter the Thai market—or are already selling on platforms like Shopee or Lazada without certification—now is the best time to review and secure your product compliance. Welcome to contact WELLION for consultation!
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