Export: Restricted and Prohibited

Restricted and prohibited exports are similar from country to country.

Restrictions and Prohibitions

All countries restrict or prohibit the import and export of certain articles based upon:

Concerns for health, safety, and public morality (e.g., foodstuffs, agricultural products, live animals, biologic materials, pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, chemicals, hazardous products, and materials deemed indecent).
Protection of the physical and economic security of the state (e.g., arms, armaments, dual-use technology, radio and television transmitters and receivers, radioactive materials, seditious materials, and currency).
Economic protection or subsidization of domestic industry (e.g., non-tariff barriers to trade for imports and control of natural resources for exports).
Enforcement of provisions of multi-lateral trade agreements (e.g., those designed to protect endangered and threatened species of animals and plants and those designed to protect copyright, patent, and trademark holders against infringement).

Restricted

Certain goods are subject to export control under the authority of the Ministry of Commerce:

Certain goods, such as sugar and rice, are subject to an export license under the Export Standards Act, which aims to ensure that such exports maintain a set quality standard.
The Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce administers Thailand's quota program for the export of textiles and apparel.
Certain goods such as seeds, trees, and tobacco leaves require an export license under other laws.
Exporters of agricultural commodities may find that membership in trade associations is mandatory. These trade associations may impose their own regulations for membership.

Prohibited

It is prohibited by law to take the following items out of Thailand:

Obscene objects/literature/pictures
Pornographic materials
Narcotics (for instance, marijuana, hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, or heroin)
Fake currency, bonds, or coins
Fake royal/official seals
Intellectual property right (IPR) infringing goods, for instance, musical tapes, compact discs, computer software, and so on
Counterfeit trademark goods

Note: The above information is subject to change. Exporters are advised to obtain the most current information from a customs broker, freight forwarder, or the local customs authorities.