The Cabinet extended the enforcement deadline for food-contact paper standards until mid-2027, aiming to help small businesses adjust and prevent product shortages.
On 16 June 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved in principle a draft ministerial regulation requiring food-contact paper products to comply with the new standards, as proposed by the Ministry of Industry. The key point is extending the enforcement period of the ministerial regulation requiring food-contact paper products to meet the 2025 standards by one year—from the original enforcement date of 22 June 2026 to the new date of 22 June 2027.
Ms. Ploytale stated that this easing and extension will help prevent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from facing risks that could force them to close, as they may not be able to adjust production processes or source materials to meet the new standards in time. Furthermore, the extension will help citizens avoid bearing increased living costs caused by sudden packaging cost hikes passed on by food businesses during a period of economic adjustment.
Additionally, this measure helps prevent shortages of food-contact paper products in the market, such as snack bags, paper carry bags, paper plates, and food liners, which are essential for daily life. It ensures that people can continue to access food products and services normally while giving the industry time to prepare and sustainably upgrade product standards.