On a Thai medicine pack, three things are worth finding: the registration number ("Reg. No"), which shows the product is registered with the Thai FDA, and the MFG and EXP dates, which may be written in the Western year or the Thai Buddhist-era year. Everything else, including how to take the medicine, is best asked of the pharmacist, in writing and in English.
Thai pharmacies are easy to use, but the packs and the little dispensing bags are often printed partly or wholly in Thai. This page sticks to what we could verify about Thai labels and then gives practical ways to get the rest of the information. It does not tell you what to take or how much; that is a conversation for a pharmacist or doctor.
On the pack (verified, October 2026)
- Reg. No
- Registration number of the product
- MFG, MFG. date or MFd
- Manufacturing date
- EXP or Exp. date
- Expiry date
- Year
- Either Western (2026) or Buddhist era (2569); both appear on Thai packs
- Check a product
- Thai FDA product search and oryor.com
- Report a substandard product
- Thai FDA hotline 1556
What we could and could not verify about Thai labels
Medicines in Thailand are governed by the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967), amended several times, most recently in 2019, the Thai FDA explains. The Act defines a "finished packaged medicine" (ยาบรรจุเสร็จ) as one in a closed or sealed container "with a label complete as required by this Act". It also defines "medicine for local use" (ยาใช้เฉพาะที่) as one meant for the ear, eye, nose, mouth, anus, vagina or urethra.
What the Act requires a label to contain, line by line, we could not read in an official text. Nor did we find an official source for the Thai words often printed on pharmacy bags for timing ("before meals", "after meals" and similar) or for the color codes some websites describe. We leave those out rather than guess. What follows is limited to the registration number, the dates, and how to get clear instructions.
The registration number and how to check it
Thai medicine packs carry a registration number, marked "Reg. No" in English, according to a consumer leaflet from Mahidol University's Faculty of Pharmacy. It shows that the product has been registered with the Thai FDA for sale in Thailand. We have not verified the exact format of these numbers, so we do not print an example.
The Thai FDA runs a public product-search system, linked as "Health Products Search" from its English website, and its consumer site oryor.com has a product-check page. Both are interactive apps that we could not test step by step, and we could not confirm that they work in English. If you cannot get a result, ask the pharmacist to look the product up for you, or call the FDA hotline 1556.
A Thai registration number is not a permit to take the medicine home. It covers sale in Thailand only. Your home country's customs rules decide what you may carry back; our page on taking medicine home from Thailand covers the main countries.
The UK Foreign Office warns that medication sold on the street may not be genuine. Buying from a licensed pharmacy with a pharmacist present, and checking that the pack is sealed and carries a registration number, is the simple defence.
MFG and EXP dates: Western or Buddhist year?
The same Mahidol leaflet explains the date abbreviations and shows real examples. They make the main point clear: Thai packs use both calendars, sometimes with only two digits for the year.
| As printed | Meaning | Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| MFd 22/6/16 | Made 22 June 2016 | Western |
| MFG. date 15.12.58 | Made 15 December 2015 (B.E. 2558) | Buddhist era |
| MFd AUG.15 | Made August 2015 | Western |
| EXP JUL 17 | Expires July 2017 | Western |
| Exp. date 15.12.61 | Expires 15 December 2018 (B.E. 2561) | Buddhist era |
A working tip, not an official rule: a two-digit year in the 50s to 70s, such as "15.12.69", is almost certainly Buddhist era (2569, which is 2026), while a year in the teens or 20s is Western. Compare the MFG and EXP dates, too; an expiry before the manufacturing date means you have misread the calendar. Our guide to Thai dates and the Buddhist era explains the 543-year difference and how food labels use it.
Ask for the generic name
Brand names differ from country to country; the active ingredient, or generic name, does not. The CDC advises travelers to make sure their prescriptions include generic names, and the same habit works in reverse. Ask the pharmacist to write the generic name and strength on the bag or box. It lets your own doctor or pharmacist at home see exactly what you took, and it lets you check whether a product contains something you should avoid.
That last point matters in Thailand. Some ingredients, such as codeine, are controlled; our page on codeine and painkillers explains which, and the guide to the Thai FDA medicine permit covers bringing controlled medicines into the country. Always check the ingredient, not the brand.
Getting instructions you can actually read
The instructions on a Thai pharmacy bag may be handwritten, printed in Thai, or both. Instead of guessing later, ask before you leave the counter, and ask for the answers to be written down. Useful questions:
- What is the generic name and the strength of this medicine?
- Could you write how and when to take it, in English, on the bag?
- How long should I take it for?
- Is it safe with my regular medicines, alcohol or a condition I have?
- Which side effects mean I should stop and see a doctor?
A translation app with a camera function can help you read a Thai label back at your hotel, but treat its output as a rough guide and confirm anything important with the pharmacist. Our list of essential Thai phrases helps with the basics, and the article on what you can buy over the counter in Thai pharmacies explains what is on the shelves.
Photograph the box before you throw it away. A clear photo of the pack, with the name, Reg. No and EXP date, is the easiest record to show a doctor later or to send with an insurance claim.
When to go back, or see a doctor
Go back to the pharmacist or see a doctor if your symptoms get worse, if they have not improved in the time the pharmacist told you to expect, or if you react badly to the medicine. A pharmacy is not the place for a high fever, severe pain or breathing problems: see a doctor at a clinic or hospital, and call 1669 for an ambulance in an emergency. Our guides to late-night pharmacies and hospitals in Thailand show where to go at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
Are expiry dates on Thai medicine in the Buddhist year?
Sometimes. A Mahidol University pharmacy leaflet shows Thai packs using both: "Exp. date 15.12.61" means December 2018 in the Buddhist era, while "EXP JUL 17" means July 2017. A two-digit year in the 50s to 70s is almost always Buddhist era.
How do I check a Thai medicine registration number?
The Thai FDA runs a public product search, linked from its English website, and its consumer site oryor.com has a product-check page. We could not confirm that either works in English, so ask the pharmacist to check, or call the FDA hotline 1556.
Will a Thai pharmacy write the instructions in English?
No rule we found requires English instructions, so ask for the generic name, strength and timing to be written on the bag before you leave, and check anything unclear while you are still at the counter.
Sources
- Thai FDA – What are drugs? (Drug Act B.E. 2510 and amendments) (checked October 2026)
- Wikisource – Drug Act (No. 5) B.E. 2530, section 4 definitions (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Mahidol University Faculty of Pharmacy – Consumer leaflet on medicine dates and labels (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Thai FDA – English website and Health Products Search (checked October 2026)
- Oryor.com (Thai FDA) – Check a product (in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- CDC – Thailand healthy travel packing list (checked October 2026)
- FCDO – Thailand travel advice: health (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Biz News – Thai FDA advice and hotline 1556 (in Thai, 19 April 2026) (checked October 2026)