Officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) raided 12 Chinese supermarkets in Bangkok on Friday, uncovering tonnes of made-in-China products that lacked certification from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The raids were initiated after consumers reported finding products without FDA labels in several Chinese supermarkets. Authorities seized over 1,878 items across 70 product lines that were being sold illegally.
The owners of these supermarkets will face prosecution under the Consumer Protection Act, according to the police.
The FDA has advised business operators to carefully inspect products before selling them to ensure consumer safety. The influx of inexpensive Chinese goods into Thailand has raised concerns, particularly among small local businesses struggling to compete on price.
In response, the government has recently mandated the collection of a 7% value-added tax (VAT) on all imported goods priced under 1,500 baht, including online purchases, which were previously exempt from VAT.
