FDA advises not to order health products without Thai labels

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging Thai consumers not to order cosmetics and healthcare products that do not have Thai labels from online platforms because it is impossible to check whether they contain ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.

The warning comes just after Chinese online retail platform Temu entered the Thai e-commerce market on Monday, sparking concerns among Thai businesses and consumers about an influx of very cheap and often low-quality goods from China.

“Ordering health products directly from overseas manufacturers can pose risks to consumers, especially if they are unable to read the label to see what the product contains and where it was manufactured.” Lertchai Lertvutthe FDA’s deputy secretary general said on Thursday.

He added that if an imported product turns out not to be as advertised, consumers often have limited options for returning it or filing a complaint with the foreign manufacturer.

“Health products manufactured in Thailand must have a clearly legible label in Thai, providing detailed information about ingredients, health warnings and where they were manufactured to ensure consumer safety, as well as indicating where to return the product or make a complaint,” Lertchai said.