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Food & Drug Law

Food & Drug Law Offences: Complete List & Penalties

Complete list of criminal offences under food & drug law, including elements, severity classifications, and maximum penalties.

Last updated: February 2026

All Food & Drug Law Offences

The following offences fall under food & drug law. Click on any offence for detailed information including elements, penalties, and defences.

Selling or Importing Medicines Without a Licence

serious

Producing, selling or importing modern medicines without the FDA licence required by the Drug Act.

Drug Act B.E. 2510 §12, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §101Max: Up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to THB 10,000 (section 101). Limited section 13 exemptions apply, including compounding on a prescription (§13(2)), doctors and dentists selling to their own patients and sales of household remedies or non-dangerous herbal medicines (§13(3)), and a traveller's 30-day personal supply (§13(4)).

Counterfeit Medicines

severe

Making, selling or importing fake, falsely-labelled or grossly off-specification medicines.

Drug Act B.E. 2510 §72(1), Drug Act B.E. 2510 §73, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §117, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §119Max: Manufacturing counterfeit medicine: 3 years to life imprisonment and a fine of THB 10,000–50,000 (section 117). Selling or importing it: 1 to 20 years and a fine of THB 2,000–10,000 (section 119); a lower fine applies where the seller genuinely did not know the medicine was counterfeit.

Unregistered Medicines

serious

Making, selling or importing a medicine that has not been registered with the Thai FDA.

Drug Act B.E. 2510 §72(4), Drug Act B.E. 2510 §122, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §79Max: Up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to THB 5,000, or both (section 122). Medicines must generally carry a drug-formula registration (section 79), subject to the section 79 bis exceptions (e.g., pharmaceutical chemicals, herbal drugs and samples).

Substandard or Deteriorated Medicines

moderate

Selling or importing medicines that are below standard, degraded or past their expiry date.

Drug Act B.E. 2510 §72(2), Drug Act B.E. 2510 §72(3), Drug Act B.E. 2510 §74, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §75, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §118, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §120, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §121Max: Selling or importing substandard medicine (section 74) is punishable by up to 3 years and a fine up to THB 5,000 (section 120); deteriorated or expired medicine (section 75) by up to 1 year or a fine up to THB 3,000, or both (section 121). Where the seller did not know, imprisonment falls away and only the fine (same ceiling) applies. Manufacturing substandard medicine is treated more severely under section 118 (2–5 years and a fine of THB 4,000–20,000).

Illegal Medicine Advertising

moderate

Advertising medicines without approval, with false or exaggerated claims, or by prohibited methods.

Drug Act B.E. 2510 §88, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §88 bis, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §89, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §90, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §90 bis, Drug Act B.E. 2510 §124Max: A fine of up to THB 100,000 (section 124). Medicine advertising by radio, loudspeaker, television, film or print needs prior approval (section 88 bis), and false, exaggerated or prize/raffle-based medicine advertising is prohibited (sections 88–90); the FDA Secretary-General can also order the advertising stopped (section 90 bis).

Severity Classification Guide

Minor Offences

Generally punishable by fines or short-term imprisonment. Often compoundable or subject to alternative dispositions.

Moderate Offences

Punishable by imprisonment up to several years. Bail is typically available. May have immigration consequences for foreigners.

Serious Offences

Significant imprisonment terms. Bail may be restricted. Deportation is common for foreign nationals upon completion of sentence.

Severe Offences

Maximum penalties including life imprisonment or death. Bail is often denied. Immediate legal representation is essential.

More Food & Drug Law Topics

Overview For Foreigners

When Legal Representation Matters

If you need assistance with food & drug law matters in Thailand, professional legal advice can help protect your interests.

Anglo Siam Legal provides experienced legal services across Thailand for both Thai nationals and foreigners.

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