Q1366. Which goods need special licences to import into or export from Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation team

Controlled goods requiring extra licences or standards include: (1) food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and narcotics — licensed by the Thai FDA (2) agricultural products, plants, animals, and animal products — inspected by the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Livestock Development (3) hazardous substances and chemicals — overseen by the Department of Industrial Works or specific agencies (4) goods on the Department of Foreign Trade's import-export control lists, which require advance licences (5) radio equipment and telecom devices — must meet NBTC standards (6) counterfeit or prohibited goods — cannot be imported at all. Control lists are updated periodically, so verify the current status with the Department of Foreign Trade and the Customs Department before ordering goods. Our team checks which licences your products need and coordinates documentation with the agencies involved. This is general guidance; requirements and fees change — always verify with the PDPC, ETDA, the Thai Customs Department, or the Department of Foreign Trade before proceeding.