FDA Thailand Checking a Thai cosmetic notification number: where to find it, what the format means and what must match
What a Thai cosmetic notification number is
A Thai cosmetic notification number is the notification receipt number printed on the label of a cream, lotion, serum, shampoo or other cosmetic. Checking it in the Thai FDA database tells you whether the manufacturer or importer actually notified the product and whether the notified details match what is on sale.
The Cosmetic Act B.E. 2558 (2015) requires anyone manufacturing, importing or contract-manufacturing cosmetics for sale to notify the product first and to start production or import only after receiving the notification receipt. The receipt is valid for three years from issue and must be renewed before it expires.
One point matters from the start: notification is not a quality certification. It is a filing of product and formula information with the authority. The notifier remains responsible for making or importing the product exactly as notified and for its safety.
Where to find it on the label, and what the format means
The Cosmetic Committee notification on cosmetic labelling B.E. 2562 (2019) requires the notification number on the label, usually on the back or side near the manufacturer or importer details.
10 digits or 13 digits
The Thai FDA's explanatory note on the labelling notification says the number may appear in the 10-digit format (AA-B-CCXXXXX) or the 13-digit format (AA-B-CCXXXXXXXX), as issued, with 13 digits used since 2016. Long-established products may still carry 10 digits; that is not an error.
Why cosmetics have no Thai FDA frame
A Thai FDA consumer guide on searching cosmetic data explains that cosmetic labels do not use the Thai FDA mark but must carry the notification number, so claiming that a cosmetic bears the Thai FDA mark is incorrect. A cream that prints its number inside a food-style Thai FDA frame deserves a closer look.
Small packs
Containers with less than 20 cm² of label area must show at least the name, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date (where required) and notification number, with the rest on an insert. Lipsticks and small samples still need the notification number.
Thai FDA cosmetic number lookup, step by step
The Thai FDA guide describes the search as follows:
- On the Thai FDA website, open the product search menu and choose cosmetics.
- Select the search for cosmetic notification details.
- Search by notification number, or by company name, cosmetic name or trade name; type English names in capital letters.
- Open the result and compare it with the label.
You can also use the Thai FDA number checker on this site, which queries the Thai FDA's public search service. If the number returns nothing, try a short trade name; long full names often fail to match.
Check cosmetic registration Thailand: what must match
Because the 2019 labelling notification sets out the label content in detail, several points can be compared with the notification record.
| On the label | Compare with the record |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic name and trade name | Should match in Thai and English |
| Cosmetic type | For example, facial cream, not a different kind of product |
| Manufacturer or importer name and address, and country of manufacture | Must be the same company as the notifier |
| Notification status | Still in force (valid for three years) |
A matching trade name with a different product name or type, for example a powder in the database but a body cream on the shelf, is not the same product.
Thai cosmetic label requirements consumers can check
Besides the notification number, cosmetics sold in Thailand must carry the information required by the 2019 labelling notification:
- the cosmetic name and trade name, larger than other text;
- the type of cosmetic;
- all ingredients by the names in the references set by the Thai FDA, in descending order (colours and ingredients below 1% need not be ordered but follow those above 1%);
- directions for use;
- name and address of the manufacturer or importer, and the country of manufacture;
- net quantity, batch number and month and year of manufacture;
- warnings, where applicable.
The month and year of expiry must be shown when shelf life is under 30 months, or when the product contains hydrogen peroxide, or is a sunscreen containing avobenzone; beyond 30 months it is optional. The label must be in Thai; imported cosmetics may add the Thai label within 30 days of customs release.
Imported cosmetics: a Thai label and a responsible company in Thailand
Foreign cosmetics sold in Thailand must be notified by an importer in the country. The Thai notification rules require an individual applicant to be a Thai national aged 20 or over, or a company registered in Thailand, and the importer must attach an authorisation from the brand owner or foreign manufacturer.
For consumers this means a properly imported cosmetic names a Thai importer on the label, alongside the country of manufacture. A label only in a foreign language, with no Thai importer and a number that cannot be found, suggests the product may not have been imported properly, which makes it hard to trace anyone responsible if something goes wrong.
Warning signs
- Claims of a Thai FDA mark or Thai FDA endorsement. A Thai FDA cosmetic control article notes that the agency does not certify any cosmetic.
- Names or wording that suggest a medicine. The Thai FDA's cosmetic notification criteria state that names must not suggest a drug or effects beyond a cosmetic; examples include CURE, MED, THERAPY, SLIMMING and BUST UP.
- Effects beyond a cosmetic, such as permanent melasma removal, fat dissolving, hair regrowth or breast enlargement. Under the same criteria, products aimed at such effects are not cosmetics at all.
- No Thai label, no importer, or no notification number.
- Unlabelled decanted samples. Even small samples need minimum label information.
If you cannot find the number, stop using the product, search again by short trade name or company, and ask the seller. A Thai FDA leaflet on illegal acne and melasma products directs reports to the 1556 consumer hotline (press 0) or 0-2590-7354-5. If you have a reaction such as a rash, burning or irritation, stop using it and consult a doctor or pharmacist, bringing the pack. See also spotting exaggerated ads.
For cosmetic brand owners
As more consumers check numbers, labels must match the notification exactly. The Cosmetic Act requires products to be made or imported as notified, and the authority may order suspension or correction otherwise.
- Compare the cosmetic name, trade name, type and notifier on the label with the receipt before every print run.
- Check that the product name has no words implying effects beyond a cosmetic, using the label checker.
- Screen the formula against the banned and restricted lists with the substance search and the formula checker.
- Track receipt expiry and renew before the three years end.
Read the full filing guide in how to notify cosmetics in Thailand, or let our team handle the filing through our registration service.
Frequently asked questions
How many digits does a Thai cosmetic notification number have?
Either 10 digits (older format) or 13 digits (used since 2016), shown as issued. Both are valid.
Is a cream without the Thai FDA mark illegal?
No. Cosmetics do not use the Thai FDA mark; they must show the notification number on the label.
If the number is found, is the cream safe?
It shows that the product was notified and a company is legally responsible. Notification is not a quality certification, and the name, type and notifier must still match the label.
Must Thai cosmetics show an expiry date?
Yes when shelf life is under 30 months, or when they contain hydrogen peroxide or are sunscreens with avobenzone. Beyond 30 months it is optional.
How long is a cosmetic notification valid?
Three years from issue, renewable before it expires.
Sources
- Cosmetic Act B.E. 2558 (2015) · Open source · Search our archive
- MOPH notification on cosmetic notification, receipts, renewal, amendment and replacement (2018) · Open source · Search our archive
- Cosmetic Committee notification on cosmetic labelling B.E. 2562 (2019) · Open source · Search our archive
- Explanatory note on the cosmetic labelling notification · Open source · Search our archive
- Searching cosmetic data (Thai FDA consumer guide) · Open source · Search our archive
- Cosmetic notification criteria (revised 2021) · Open source · Search our archive
- Article on cosmetic advertising (Thai FDA cosmetic control group) · Open source · Search our archive
- Leaflet on illegal acne and melasma products (Thai FDA) · Open source · Search our archive
This article is for general information. It is not a Thai FDA ruling or legal advice, and rules change — check the latest notification or ask an expert before filing or producing.