Regulations on Baby Bottles and Milk Containers to Be Expanded in Thailand

Thailand has recently announced draft rules for the manufacture of feeding bottles and liquid milk containers for infants and young children.  The proposed implementation date is 180 days after publication in the Official Gazette.

Proposal Applies to Milk Containers, Feeding Bottles and Components

On March 17, 2015, the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated Notification G/SPS/N/Tha/220/add.1 to announce that the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) of Thailand is proposing to adopt the proposal ‘Feeding Bottle and Liquid Milk Container for Infants and Young Children.’  The proposal, an addendum to Notification G/SPS/N/Tha/220, establishes materials to be used in the manufacture of:

- Feeding bottles and their components (lids, nipples, teats, rings and seals).

- Single and repeated use liquid milk containers for infants and young children.

Specifications on Food Contact Materials Defined

The proposal also defines specifications for feeding bottles and their components as well as liquid milk containers manufactured from polypropylene (PP), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene (PE), natural rubber and synthetic rubber materials. According to the WTO Notification, the implementation date will be 180 days after publication in the Official Gazette (1 August 2015).

The relevant legislation and standards cited in WTO Notification G/SPS/N/Tha/220 are:

- Regulation (EU) 10/2011 ‘Food Contact Plastics’.

- Directive 93/11/EEC ‘Release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from elastomers or rubber teats and soothers’.

EN 14350-2:2004 ‘Child use and care articles – drinking equipment’.

- The Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: Notification No. 370 (1959) revised version No. 416 (2008). Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives etc. (Rubber and Nursing Utensils).

- Japan Industrial Standard: JIS 9112:1997 ‘Feeding bottles’

Highlights of the proposal are summarized within the latest SGS Safeguards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-07115-thailand-new-requirements-feeding-bottles-liquid-milk-containers-a4-en-15.pdf) in:

- Table 1. ‘Materials for Feeding Bottles and their components & Liquid Milk Containers for Infants and Children’

- Table 2. ‘Specifications for the Migration of Substances from PP, PES and PE Materials.’ 

- Table 3. ‘Specifications for the Migration of Substances from Natural Rubber and Synthetic Rubber Materials’

References:

- WTO Notification G/SPS/N/Tha/220/add.1 – Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – Feeding bottles and liquid milk containers for infants and young children – Addendum (https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?MetaCollection=WTO&SymbolList=&Serial=%2215-1533%22&IssuingDateFrom=&IssuingDateTo=&CATTITLE=&ConcernedCountryList=&OtherCountryList=&SubjectList=&TypeList=&AutoSummary=&FullText=&FullTextForm=&Product)

- WTO Notification G/SPS/N/Tha/220 – Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – Notification – Thailand – Feeding bottles and liquid milk containers for infants and young children (https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?MetaCollection=WTO&SymbolList=&Serial=%2213-6626%22&IssuingDateFrom=&IssuingDateTo=&CATTITLE=&ConcernedCountryList=&OtherCountryList=&SubjectList=&TypeList=&AutoSummary=&FullText=&FullTextForm=&Product)

About SGS Testing and Safety of Consumer Goods

Throughout its global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy, for food contact feeding bottles and liquid milk containers for infants and children (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Toys-and-Juvenile-Products/Juvenile-Products-and-Childcare-Articles/Testing/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) for Thailand and international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

HingWo Tsang
Global Toys and Juvenile Products Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
1/F On Wui Centre
25 Lok Yip Road
Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong, China

t: +852 2774 7420
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sgs.com/hardgoods

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.