On January 27, 2022, the Ministry of Health of Thailand released two draft food standards, namely the draft Standard for “Chocolate and Its Products” and the Draft Standard for “Cocoa Derivatives”.

(1) The main contents of “Chocolate and Its Products” include the definition and characteristic indicators of chocolate and its various products (for example, the addition of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter in chocolate should not exceed 5%), the allowed raw materials and additives (such as alcohol content not exceeding 5%) 0.5%, the content of vanillin and ethyl vanillin does not exceed 1000mg/kg), general and special regulations for packaging and labeling, etc.;

(2) The main contents of “Cocoa Derivatives” include product definition and classification (cocoa-derived products include cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa mass and other categories), various product quality requirements (such as cocoa butter fat content between 47-60%, free fatty acids not more than 1.75%, saponification not more than 0.7%, etc.), microbial hygiene standards (such as mold and yeast in cocoa powder should not exceed 100cfu/g), requirements for the use of food additives and auxiliaries, packaging and labeling requirements, etc. The feedback period for the above two draft standards is until April 5, 2022.