How GACP Certification Works in Thailand — Step by Step

GrowRoom · July 2026 · 7 min read

The path to GACP certification isn't hard because the requirements are complex. It's hard because most farms start building records after deciding to apply — when auditors want to see history. Here are the main steps and where farms stumble.

Requirements and forms can change. Verify the current process directly with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) before applying.

The six main steps

1. Study the requirements and self-assess. Read the latest GACP criteria and check your farm against them item by item. The biggest gaps are almost always records and SOPs, not farm infrastructure.
2. Get your record system and SOPs running. Before you apply, records should already be flowing: environmental logs, input logs, batch records, and SOPs your staff actually follow. Aim for at least one full production cycle of continuous history.
3. Submit the application with documents. Application, relevant licenses, farm layout, SOP list, water/media test results (as required), and your quality-system documents.
4. Document review. Officials review your paperwork before visiting. Gaps found here are fixed fast when records are digital and searchable.
5. On-site assessment. Inspectors walk the farm, interview staff, and spot-check historical records — "what was applied to this batch, on what date, by whom?" Answering in minutes builds instant credibility.
6. Corrective actions (CAPA) and certification. Findings need a corrective plan with evidence. The certificate is valid for 3 years, with annual compliance audits and possible special inspections.

Where farms stumble

• Starting records too late. A log that began one month before inspection is obvious. A system logging automatically every day, starting now, is the real shortcut.
• SOPs that don't match reality. Auditors interview the people doing the work. If answers don't match the paper, it's a finding.
• Unattributable entries. "Who mixed this feed tank?" needs a person's name, not "the team".
• No calibration records. Sensors and scales need a calibration history — the small item that trips up farms most often.
• Forgetting the drying and storage rooms. GACP doesn't end at harvest. Post-harvest environment needs records too.

A realistic timeline

Farms with a running record system can usually prepare and file within weeks. Starting from zero, budget 3–6 months to set up the system, accumulate record history, and run an internal mock audit before the real thing. Certification consulting runs around ฿100,000–500,000+ — and the more complete your records, the smaller the consultant's scope (and invoice) becomes.

Next: The documents every GACP audit demands and How to prepare for a GACP inspection and pass the first time.

Note: general information, not legal advice. Verify with DTAM.