The blockbuster new regulations of Thai customs.

Thailand will strengthen customs inspections on goods imported from China. It has already implemented a 100% inspection policy. This policy is expected to have a significant impact on cross-border e-commerce and import-export businesses. The main purpose of this policy is to ensure that all imported goods, particularly those from China, meet Thailand’s quality and safety standards.

1. 100% customs inspection

All imported goods entering Thailand through the Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom customs stations will no longer be subject to random inspections. Instead, they will undergo full inspections. Instead, each container will undergo detailed inspections. In the past, some goods that could be quickly cleared through customs will face more stringent and complicated review procedures.

2. Strengthening supervision in key areas

The Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom customs stations will become the key supervision areas under this policy. The Thai government emphasizes the importance of quality and safety for imported goods. This is especially crucial for products from China. These goods must comply with Thailand’s laws and quality requirements. These goods will undergo comprehensive inspections to ensure that they will not endanger consumer health or violate local regulations.

3. Impact on cross-border e-commerce

This policy may have a significant impact on cross-border e-commerce. Many cross-border e-commerce businesses rely on fast customs clearance to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The new policy may lead to longer clearance times and higher costs. For import and export enterprises, this means they must strengthen communication and coordination with the customs department. This will help ensure their goods pass the strict inspections smoothly.

The impacts brought by the new regulations of Thai customs.

The Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom customs stations are the main import channels for Chinese products in Thailand. They handle a large volume of goods from China, especially auto parts, electrical appliances, and household items. And the implementation of this policy will inevitably affect the customs clearance efficiency of these goods. Previously, the goods passing through these customs stations could usually go through random inspections and be cleared quickly and smoothly. But now, every single container will be subject to 100% inspection, which means more time and higher costs will be involved.

The core of the new policy is to strengthen control over goods with potential quality and safety hazards. This will be done by intensifying document reviews, price verifications, and product quality inspections. As the inspections go deeper, importers may face longer customs clearance times and higher logistics costs. The demurrage time and transportation cycle of some goods may be prolonged. This will undoubtedly affect the supply chain efficiency of cross-border e-commerce businesses.

I. Strengthening the Quality Inspection Process for Imported Products

1.Strengthening cooperation among regulatory agencies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Thailand, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), and the Ministry of Commerce will work together to strengthen quality supervision of imported products. This will focus particularly on sensitive categories like food, health products, and cosmetics. These categories are directly related to consumers’ health and safety. Therefore, the Thai government will further tighten its control over their quality.

2.Specific measures

For imported products in these categories, relevant departments will increase inspection frequency. They will also refine quality inspection procedures to ensure all goods comply with Thai laws and standards. This measure will help improve consumers’ trust in imported goods, especially in terms of health and safety.

II. Upgrading the Supervision of Cross-border E-commerce

1.Requiring e-commerce enterprises to register legal entities

Thailand will strengthen supervision of imported goods sold on cross-border e-commerce platforms. These platforms must have a local legal entity, and e-commerce businesses need to set up offices in Thailand. This measure aims to ensure effective government oversight, particularly in taxation, consumer rights protection, and product quality.

2.Impact on e-commerce operations

This policy will strengthen the Thai government’s control over cross-border e-commerce and ensure compliance with local laws and market standards. However, cross-border e-commerce companies may need to invest additional resources to meet new registration and operational requirements. This could increase operating costs and compliance challenges.

III. Promoting International Standard Mutual Recognition

1.Formulating New Standards: Thailand plans to accelerate the introduction of new standards for imported products, especially in the fields of food, medicine, and other high-risk areas. Meanwhile, Thailand will strive to reach international standard mutual recognition agreements with other countries to reduce compliance costs in its domestic market.

2.Facilitating Trade: Through international standard mutual recognition agreements, Thailand can reduce duplicate inspections and certification requirements for imported goods, thereby improving import efficiency, reducing compliance burdens on enterprises, and promoting international trade.

How should cross-border enterprises respond?

1.Optimizing Product Quality

• Obtaining Certifications or Test Reports in Advance: Enterprises should apply to relevant Thai departments for necessary certifications in advance, especially FDA approvals or other quality certifications for categories such as food, health products, and cosmetics, to ensure that the products meet Thailand’s hygiene and safety standards. The application for certification takes a long time, and preparing in advance can avoid products from being unable to enter the market in time due to insufficient time.

• Ensuring Products Comply with Thai Standards: In addition to obtaining certifications, enterprises also need to ensure that the ingredients, packaging, labels, etc. of the products comply with relevant Thai regulations. For example, food labels must indicate information such as ingredients, production dates, expiration dates, manufacturers, etc., and must be in the Thai language.

• Conducting Regular Product Quality Tests: To avoid products being rejected or detained due to quality issues, enterprises can conduct regular product quality tests through third-party testing institutions to ensure that the products always meet the requirements of the Thai market.

2.Strengthening Compliance Management

• Accurate Preparation of Import Documents: All imported and exported goods must have clear and complete customs declaration documents, including invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc. Incorrect or incomplete documents will lead to customs clearance delays or even fines.

• Compliance of the Customs Clearance Process: Cross-border e-commerce needs to ensure that the customs clearance process of products fully complies with the latest regulations of Thai customs. Customs brokers can help identify and deal with any compliance issues raised by customs and avoid goods detention due to poor customs clearance.

• Professional Advice and Support: Collaborating with logistics companies can not only speed up the goods clearance but also obtain professional advice on the latest Thai customs policies, ensuring that enterprises can adjust their processes in a timely manner once there is a policy change.