Food & Beverage

Sector Focus

Food & Beverage

Legal counsel for food producers, restaurant groups, beverage brands, importers, exporters, and F&B investors across Thailand.

Thailand's Food Economy

Thailand is one of the world's leading food exporters — a major producer and processor of rice, sugar, seafood, poultry, and processed foods destined for global markets. Its domestic food and beverage market is equally significant, driven by a sophisticated consumer base, strong tourism flows, and a restaurant and franchise sector that continues to expand.

Whether you are producing food for export, distributing imported brands, operating restaurants or food service businesses, or investing in an F&B company, Thailand's regulatory and commercial environment has specific requirements that reward careful legal structuring.

Food Safety & FDA Compliance

Thailand's Food and Drug Administration regulates the production, importation, distribution, and labelling of food and food products. Non-compliance can result in product seizure, import bans, fines, and criminal liability for company directors.

  • Food Notification & Registration — Determining whether a product requires FDA notification (foods), registration (specific-controlled foods), or approval (specially controlled foods) — and managing the application process.
  • Import Licensing — Licences required for importing food products into Thailand — including importer registration, product-specific documentation, and customs classification.
  • Labelling Compliance — Thai-language labelling requirements, mandatory declarations, nutrition information, allergen disclosure, and health claim restrictions under the Food Act and FDA notifications.
  • Food Establishment Licences — Licences for food factories, food depots, food import businesses, and food distribution operations under the Food Act and Public Health Act.
  • Regulatory Investigations — Responding to FDA inspection findings, managing product recalls, and defending enforcement actions under food safety legislation.

Investment & Market Entry

Foreign investment in Thai food and beverage businesses is subject to the Foreign Business Act. Food production and export businesses are generally more accessible to foreign investors than domestic distribution, which may require FBA licencing. We advise on:

BOI Agro-Industrial Promotion

Food processing and agro-industrial businesses qualify for BOI promotion — tax holidays, import duty exemptions, and land ownership rights. We manage BOI applications and ongoing compliance.

Distribution Structures

Foreign companies distributing food and beverages in Thailand typically require FBA licences or compliant Thai distributor arrangements. We structure distributor and agent relationships that balance regulatory compliance with commercial control.

Restaurant & Franchise Investment

Franchise agreements, master franchise structures, area development agreements, and investment in restaurant groups — including FBA analysis for foreign franchise concepts.

F&B Acquisitions

Due diligence on F&B targets — FDA licence validity, brand ownership, supply chain contracts, employment, and food safety compliance history — before committing to an acquisition.

Commercial Contracts & Brand Protection

F&B businesses depend on robust supply chains, protected brands, and well-structured distribution arrangements. We assist with:

Supply & Procurement

Raw material supply agreements, quality and food safety standards, price mechanisms, and remedies for non-conforming or contaminated goods.

Trademark & Brand

Thai trademark registration for food and beverage brands, protecting against counterfeit products, and enforcing rights against unauthorised use of brand names and packaging.

Distribution Agreements

Exclusive and selective distribution arrangements, territory protection, minimum volume commitments, and compliant termination provisions under Thai commercial law.

Franchise Agreements

Drafting and reviewing franchise agreements, operations manuals, and licence terms for domestic and international F&B franchise concepts entering or operating in Thailand.

Product Liability

Managing consumer complaints, product liability claims, food safety incidents, and coordinating recalls under the Consumer Protection Act and Product Liability Act.

Liquor & Alcohol

Liquor import licences, alcohol advertising compliance under the Alcoholic Beverages Control Act, and liquor establishment licences for bars and restaurants.

Talk to Our Food & Beverage Team

From FDA registration to franchise agreements, we provide practical legal advice for F&B businesses at every stage of their growth in Thailand.