Start from the day you want to sell
Pick the campaign date first, then count backwards. Label printing, shipping and customs clearance all sit between the registration number and the first sale, and each of them needs its own slot in the plan.
| Stage | Plan for | Who is on the critical path |
|---|---|---|
| Factory documents | 2 to 4 weeks | The factory |
| Filing and review | 3 days to several months, by category | The authority |
| Thai label design and printing | 2 to 3 weeks | Your designer and printer |
| Production, shipping and customs | 4 to 8 weeks | Freight and customs |
| Marketplace listing review | 3 to 7 days | The platform |
Run the two authorities in parallel
When a product needs both a Thai FDA number and a TISI licence, the two files do not wait for each other. We open them in the same week so the total time is the longer of the two, not the sum.
Leave the label until the number exists
The Thai label carries the registration number, the importer details and the warnings required for the category. Designing early is fine. Printing early is how thousands of boxes end up unusable.
Build in a buffer for one round of questions
Assume the officer will ask for one clarification. Planning a two to three week buffer turns a normal request for information into a scheduling detail instead of a missed campaign.