Bangkok: The regulations for importing animal feed corn and wheat for the year 2026 are now in effect. The government has introduced four new laws requiring that imports of animal feed corn and wheat in 2026 must include a certificate verifying that the imports are free from burning, along with documentation detailing the production source and other relevant evidence.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Airin Phanrit, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government, through the Department of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce, has issued four regulations concerning the import of animal feed corn and wheat for use as animal feed raw materials for 2026. These regulations, effective from January 1, 2026, aim to systematically regulate the import of animal feed raw materials, protect public health, and upgrade the standards of Thai products in accordance with government policy. All four regulations align with the resolutions of the National Corn Policy and Management Committee and have been approved by the Cabinet.
The first regulation is the Ministry of Commerce Announcement Regarding the Designation of Animal Feed Corn as a Commodity Requiring Certification and Import Regulation Measures into the Kingdom of Thailand, B.E. 2568 (2025). This regulation designates the import of animal feed corn that is free from burning practices, adding an environmental condition that imported animal feed corn must come from production sources or agricultural practices that do not use burning in the cultivation process.
These measures are designed to reduce transboundary haze and PM 2.5 pollution, support environmentally friendly agriculture, and upgrade agricultural supply chain standards to align with global trade trends. Importers must prepare documents, production source information, and relevant evidence to demonstrate compliance with legally mandated non-burning requirements.
For customs clearance, two types of documents are required. To minimize disruption during the initial adjustment period, importers can use a "Self-Certification Letter" with information on cultivation, farm location, and import quantity for traceability. Alternatively, they can use "documents issued by an authorized government agency of the exporting country, or by an agency or institution accredited or delegated by the exporting country, or by an internationally recognized organization" to facilitate trade. Importers must retain such information and documents for five years for traceability. A Competent Authority (CA) of Thailand, designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, will publish the list of authorized agencies in the exporting country that issue such documents.
The second and third regulations include the Ministry of Commerce Announcement on the Importation of Corn Used as Animal Feed Raw Material into the Kingdom under the ASEAN Free Trade Area Agreement for 2026 (B.E. 2568), and the Ministry of Commerce Regulation on Issuing Certificates Demonstrating Eligibility for Tariff Payment under the Agreement on Agriculture under the World Trade Organization (WTO) for Animal Feed Corn in 2026 (B.E. 2568). These regulations continue from previous legislation and manage market and import volumes in line with domestic production conditions.
Under the ASEAN Free Trade Area Agreement (AFTA/ATIGA), unlimited imports of animal feed corn from ASEAN member countries will be allowed at a 0% tariff rate. However, the import period for general importers is reduced to five months (from February 1st to June 30th, 2026) to avoid impacting Thai farmers' production during the main growing season, as per the Cabinet resolution of November 11th, 2025. Requirements for documents proving origin, import ports, and provisions allowing the Public Warehouse Organization to import throughout the year remain unchanged.
Under WTO obligations, the eligibility criteria for importers have improved, and the import quota has expanded from 54,700 tons to 1 million tons per year, as per the Cabinet resolution of November 11, 2025. The Ministry of Finance will announce the import tariff rates.
The fourth regulation on applying for and granting permission to import wheat into the Kingdom for 2026 (2025 B.E.) follows the previous year's approach to ensure sufficient and continuous raw materials for the animal feed industry, without adding new significant policy conditions like animal feed corn.
The government advises importers to prioritize the new regulations regarding burn-free animal feed corn, as these involve more detailed documentation and inspections. Preparations are underway to adjust the supply chain system and verify product origins to comply with the new requirements, applicable to all imports of animal feed corn. Other regulations remain within the existing framework familiar to importers.