FDA Thailand Letter of Authorization for Thai FDA: who can issue it and what it must say
What is a Letter of Authorization?
A Letter of Authorization for Thai FDA filings, which Thai FDA documents also call an Authorization Letter, is a letter from the product owner or the foreign manufacturer confirming that a Thai company is permitted to import and sell the brand's products in Thailand. It is the link between the foreign brand and the Thai importer that officers use to confirm the applicant actually holds rights to the goods.
Thai cosmetic law requires the notifier to be on the Thai side: a Thai national aged at least 20, or a juristic person registered in Thailand. A foreign brand cannot file on its own, so a Thai importer files, and that importer must show an authorisation from the rights holder. This guide sets out who may issue the letter, what it must contain and where applicants commonly slip, based on the Thai FDA's notification and its own guideline.
When you need one
Imported cosmetics: every application. The annex to the 2018 MOPH notification on cosmetic notification requires importers to attach permission from the product owner or foreign manufacturer, and the Thai FDA's guideline on Authorization Letters states plainly that importers must attach one to every cosmetic import notification. The Thai FDA's public manual on cosmetic notification (updated 28 March 2025) likewise lists a Letter of Authorization for imports.
Beyond filing, Annex B of the 2018 notification on criteria for producing or importing cosmetics requires importers to hold the rights letter from the owner or manufacturer, and officers can check it during premises inspections. The letter therefore needs to stay in force for as long as you import, not just on the day you file.
Imported food and supplements. The Thai FDA's revised 2026 supplement guide does not list a brand authorisation letter among the core documents, although it does mention other documents as the case requires. Many importers prepare one anyway. Ask the officer whether your application needs it rather than assuming it does not.
Who may issue the letter
The Thai FDA guideline recognises three kinds of issuer.
| Issuer | When it works | Extra document needed |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The foreign manufacturer authorises the import directly | — |
| Product owner | The brand owner authorises the import | If the product owner is in Thailand and hires a foreign plant, attach the contract manufacturing agreement |
| Foreign product distributor | A distributor empowered by the owner to sub-delegate | A letter from the product owner granting that power |
For foreign distributors the guideline allows two formats. Either the product owner issues a single letter naming both the distributor and the Thai importer, or the owner authorises the distributor to issue letters, and the distributor then issues one to the importer. What the officer must see is an unbroken chain of rights from the owner to the importer.
What the letter must state
The Thai FDA guideline sets out the required content.
- A clear statement of how the issuer relates to the product: manufacturer, product owner or distributor.
- The brand name authorised for import, stated clearly.
- The address of the manufacturing site or importer is optional, but if included it must match the notification form, or be explainable, for example as a head office address.
In addition, a usable letter should give the Thai importer's name and address exactly as in its company certificate, the scope of rights (import and distribution), the products or product groups covered, the signatory's name, title and signature, and the date, so the officer can check consistency in one pass.
Letter of Authorization sample: the Thai FDA template
The Thai FDA guideline attaches an English sample letter and notes that it is a template, not anyone's real authorisation. Its structure is:
| Part | What the Thai FDA sample contains |
|---|---|
| Heading | LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION, addressed To whom it may concern |
| Issuer and rights | The issuing company and address, stating it owns all rights to the brand trademarks |
| Authorisation | Authorises registration of the brand's products in Thailand and grants rights to the named Thai importer |
| Scope | Rights to import and distribute the brand's specified product groups, with a product list |
| Duration | In effect unless otherwise notified |
| Signatory | Name and title of the authorised person |
| Attestation | The sample includes a Notary Public attestation block |
The sample shows what officers expect but does not require identical wording. Each letter should reflect the real relationship; if a distributor issues it, attach the chain-of-rights evidence.
Letter of Authorization vs power of attorney
These are often confused but serve different purposes.
- Letter of Authorization: issued by the foreign product owner or manufacturer, granting a Thai company the right to import and sell the goods. It is about rights in the product.
- Power of attorney: issued by the Thai applicant company, allowing a person to submit on its behalf. It is about acting for the applicant. The cosmetic notification annex requires one when someone else files for you.
- Power of attorney and appointment of operator for food advertising permits: a specific form for advertising applications that does not replace a brand authorisation.
A single application may therefore need both a brand authorisation letter and the Thai company's power of attorney if a consultant files on your behalf.
Drafting tips: prepare it for the manufacturer to sign
In practice, importers often draft the letter and send it abroad to be printed on letterhead and signed. This keeps the wording aligned with the Thai application. Tips:
- Write in English, using the Thai company's English name exactly as on its company certificate.
- State the issuer's relationship in one clear sentence, such as owner of the brand trademarks or manufacturer.
- List the brand and the products or product groups covered, matching the names to be notified.
- If you include a factory or office address, make it the one you will enter in the application.
- Leave signature, name, title and date for the authorised person to complete.
- Never edit a signed original. If changes are needed, ask the issuer for a new letter.
Changing importers
An imported cosmetic's certificate of notification records the importer's name, import premises and storage premises, so the rights sit with that importer. When a brand changes its Thai partner, the new importer needs a letter in its own name and must file notifications in its own name, while the previous importer remains bound by the conditions of the certificates it holds.
Where a brand wants two importers to bring in the same product at the same time, the notification does not answer the question directly. Ask the Cosmetics Control Division before planning distribution, and make each letter's scope explicit.
If a letter has an end date, renew it in time, because Annex B of the import criteria requires the importer to hold the rights letter for as long as it imports.
Checklist before filing
- Issued by the manufacturer, the product owner, or a distributor with chain-of-rights evidence.
- States how the issuer relates to the product.
- Names the authorised brand clearly.
- Importer name matches its company certificate.
- Any address given matches the notification form or can be explained.
- Signed, with name, title and date.
- If a Thai owner uses a foreign plant, the contract manufacturing agreement is attached.
Our import document checker reads the letter and compares the importer, brand and manufacturer names with the rest of your file. For full document preparation, see our import service or document preparation service, and read about Certificates of Free Sale.
Frequently asked questions
Does every imported cosmetic need a Letter of Authorization?
Yes. The Thai FDA guideline requires an Authorization Letter with every cosmetic import notification.
Can a foreign distributor issue the letter?
Yes, if it holds a letter from the product owner granting power to sub-delegate, or if the owner issues one letter naming both the distributor and the importer.
Must the letter include the factory address?
No, but if it does, the address must match the notification form or be explainable, for example as a head office.
How is it different from a power of attorney?
The authorisation letter comes from the brand or manufacturer and grants import rights; a power of attorney comes from the Thai company and lets a person file on its behalf.
Do imported supplements need one?
The Thai FDA's 2026 supplement guide does not list it among core documents but mentions other documents as the case requires. Ask the officer about your application.
Sources
- Thai FDA guideline on Authorization Letters for cosmetic import notification · Open source · Search our archive
- MOPH notification on cosmetic notification and certificates of notification, 2018 · Open source · Search our archive
- MOPH notification on criteria, methods and conditions for producing or importing cosmetics, 2018 · Open source · Search our archive
- Thai FDA public manual: cosmetic notification (updated 28 March 2025) · Open source · Search our archive
- Thai FDA explanatory note on provincial officers receiving cosmetic notifications · Open source · Search our archive
- Thai FDA dietary supplement licensing guide (revised 2026) · Open source · Search our archive
- Form: power of attorney and appointment of operator for food advertising permits · 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.