Thailand launches accelerated examination process for future food patents

Thailand launched a targeted patent fast track system in 2022 to expedite the examination process for patent applications in the health sector, including medical products, processes, materials, accessories, or devices that benefit public health solutions. Starting April 1, 2023, Thailand also launched a targeted patent fast track, the Future Food Project, to expedite the examination process for patent applications in the food sector.

The Future Food project focuses on innovative products and processes in the food industry, organized into four main categories:

• Novel Foods: This category covers new food items and the application of new processes for producing, storing and/or preserving food.
• Health supplements, or health products, etc.
• Organic foods: This category focuses on organic farming methods but excludes genetically modified organisms.
• Medicinal foods: Products in this category are used as alternatives to medications or nutritional supplements under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Under the aforementioned program, patent applications can be examined within 12 months of the date of approval for accelerated examination. Applicants requesting such accelerated examination must submit relevant evidence, including a commercialization plan, limited to no more than four pages, and must submit their application to the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) between the 1st and 10th of each month. The DIP will select only five applications per month to benefit from the program, and each applicant may only apply once per month.

Thailand's Future Food program is a significant initiative from an intellectual property perspective, particularly for companies seeking to quickly enter the market with innovative food products. This not only accelerates the process from research and development to commercialization, but also provides legal protection and a competitive advantage for companies promoting healthy and sustainable development.