Thailand, one of the leading industrialized countries in Southeast Asia, has been tackling with various environmental pollution issues emerging along with economic growth. Emissions from industrial facilities and exhaust gas from mobile sources has been causing air pollution in large cities and industrial parks. Chao Phraya River, canals and waterways in urban areas has been deteriorated due to urbanization and economic activities. Social interests on management of increasing wastes, including municipal wastes, industrial wastes, waste electrical and electronic equipments, infectious wastes, as well as noise and odor issues has been risen.
Widely known legal action against industries in Map Ta Phut, Rayong province, caused a huge impact to government and private entities. In September 2009, the Central Administrative Court of Thailand ordered the suspension of 76 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut industrial estate, one of the largest petrochemical complex in the world, totaling approximately $10 billion due to environmental and health concerns. Although many projects have been reopened lately, this Map Ta Phut pollution issue once again highlighted the importance and risks of environmental management in Thailand.
Thailand established legal framework to regulate environmental issues as follows;
Summary of EHS laws in Thailand
| LAW | Field | Ministry in charge | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) | Pollution control | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment | Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 is a fundamental environmental law in Thailand. The act was enacted in 1992 to replace previous Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act of 1975. It covers wide range of pollution issues such as water pollution, air pollution, waste management, noise and vibration. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scheme, which is an obligation for specific type of industrial projects, infrastructure projects , condominiums, and etc. is implemented under this Act. |
| Factory Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) | Environmental management within factory | Ministry of Industry | Factory Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) was enacted in 1992 to replace previous Factory Act of 1969. One of the main purposes of the act is to regulate environmental and safety concerns associated with factory establishment and operation. Subsidiary regulations and notifications published by Ministry of Industry prescribes various requirements for EHS management such as;
|
| Hazardous Substance Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) | Chemical management | Ministry of Industry and other relevant ministries | Hazardous Substance Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) was enacted in 1992 to replace previous Poisons Act of 1967. The act established a legal base of chemical management in Thailand. Industries which manufacture, import, export or possess hazardous chemicals shall conduct chemical business in accordance with this act and its subsidiary regulations and notifications. The act regulates chemicals for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, food and medical purpose, industry and energy business. |
| Public Health Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) | Public health | Ministry of Public Health | Public Health Act, B.E. 2535 (1992) was enacted in 1992 to replace previous Public Health Act of 1941. The purpose of the act is to assure health, hygiene and living environment of citizens. The act prescribes duties of the local municipalities as well as the private entities. Municipal wastes are managed by local municipalities under this act. Business detrimental to health, 13 business categories defined by the subsidiary notification, shall be carried out in accordance with the requirement of the act. |
| Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act B.E. 2554 (2011) | Occupational safety and health | Ministry of Labor | Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act B.E. 2554 was established to assure safe working condition at workplace. The act prescribes duties of the central and local government as well as those of employers and employees. Subsidiary regulations and notifications published by Ministry of Labor prescribes various requirements such as;
|
| Energy Conservation Promotion Act B.E. 2535 (1992) | Energy conservation and efficiency | Ministry of Energy | Energy Conservation Promotion Act B.E. 2535 (1992) is a fundamental energy management law in Thailand. Designated factory or building under the act is required to appoint person responsible for energy and implement energy management system. Energy efficiency of the equipments is promoted and encouraged. |
| Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act, B.E.2522 (1979) | Environmental management within factory located in industrial estates | Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand | Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act, B.E.2522 (1979) establishes rules and standards for industries located in industrial estates. As environmental management is a part of the scope of the act, factories located in industrial estates shall carry out their activities in accordance with the act. |
| Notification under NEQA of 1992 | Published |
|---|---|
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 8, B.E. 2537 (1994), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Surface Water Quality Standards | 1994.02.24 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board: Marine Water Quality Standards | 2017.11.23 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 20, B.E. 2543 (2000), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Groundwater Quality Standards | 2000.09.15 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 10, B.E. 2538 (1995), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient air quality standard | 1995.05.25 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 24, B.E. 2547 (2004), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient air quality standard amendment | 2004.09.22 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 28, B.E. 2550 (2007), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient air quality standard amendment | 2007.05.14 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 33, B.E. 2552 (2009), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient air quality standard amendment | 2009.08.14 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 36, B.E. 2553 (2010), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient air quality standard amendment | 2010.03.24 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 12, B.E. 2538 (1995), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Sulfur Dioxide Standard in Ambient Air | 1995.07.13 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 21, B.E. 2544 (2001), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Sulfur Dioxide Standard in Ambient Air amendment | 2001.04.30 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 30, B.E. 2550 (2007), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) VOC Standard in Ambient Air | 2007.09.28 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board on Carbon Disulfide Standard in General Ambient Air | 2017.09.20 |
| Notification of the National Environmental Board, No. 25, B.E. 2547 (2004), issued under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Soil quality standard | 2004.10.20 |
| Notification of Environmental Board No. 15 B.E.2540 (1997) under the Conservation and Enhancement of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (1992) Ambient noise standard | 1997.04.03 |
Framework of EHS laws and regulations in Thailand.
Thailand
Ministry of Industry of Thailand announced “Notification of Ministry of Industry B.E. 2563 (2020): Declaration of the hazardous substances under the authorization of Department of Industrial Works by producer, importer, …
Thailand
Thailand announced “Notification of Director-General of Revenue Department (No. 394) regarding Standards, Procedures, and Conditions on Exemption of Corporate Income Tax for a Corporate Entities Implemented Voluntary Emission Reduction Projects” …
Thailand
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Public Health has launched an online survey of bioplastic food packaging and container in January 2021. The objective of the survey is to …
Thailand
The fourth draft of the proposed new Chemical Law of Thailand, which is intended to replace the existing Hazardous Substance Act was released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), …
Thailand
The Ministry of Industry of Thailand announced the Ministerial Regulation regarding Format and Methods to Label and Use of Marking on Industrial Products (No.2) B.E. 2564 (2021) in the Royal …
Thailand
The Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport, Thailand announced “Notification of the Department of Land Transport regarding Transportation Documents for Hazardous Substance Transporting Vehicles B.E. 2563 (2020)” in the …
Thailand
Ministry of Interior of Thailand announced “Ministerial Regulation No. 67 B.E. 2563 (2020) under Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979)” in the Royal Gazette on 18 November 2020. The regulation …
Thailand
On December 8, the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), Ministry of Industry of Thailand, organized a seminar to disseminate information about the latest policy development on chemical management at the …
Thailand
On December 2, the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), Ministry of Industry of Thailand, organized a seminar to update the progress of the project regarding the promotion of energy efficiency …
Thailand
Ministry of Energy, Thailand announced “Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Type or Size of Building and Standard, Criteria and Procedure in Designing Building for Energy Conservation B.E. 2563 (2020)” in the Royal …
Thailand
Thailand announced “Notification of Director-General of Revenue Department (No. 388) regarding Categories, Criteria, Procedures, and Conditions on Exemption of Corporate Income Tax for Expenses against Biodegradable Plastic Products” in the …
Thailand
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand announced “Ministerial Regulation regarding Management of Toxic and Hazardous Waste from Communities B.E. 2563 (2020)” in the Royal Gazette on 22 October 2020 …
Thailand
The Department of Energy Business, the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, announced “Notification of Department of Energy Business: Fire protection and extinguishing system with fire sprinkler for the gas cylinders …
Thailand
Thailand Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) recently announced a requirement that manufacturers and/or importer of TISI certified products shall affix electronic information by QR Code together with the TISI mark. Ministry …
Thailand
Natural gas pipeline owned by PTT Public Company Limited, the energy state enterprise of Thailand, has exploded in the Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan province on 22 October 2020. Three …
Thailand
On 9 September, the Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM), Ministry of Industry announced the invention of the first modern recycling technology to tackle E-waste issue in Thailand. Recycling Technology …
Thailand
Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI) ally with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), governmental and private sectors, and institution to launch the project “simulation of waste electrical and electronic …
Thailand
The Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) released a Draft Climate Change Act of B.E. XXXX for public consultation on 24 August 2020. The bill, which …
Thailand
On 14 September 2020, the Ministry of Commerce, Thailand announced “Notification of Ministry of Commerce: Designation of electric and electronic wastes as goods prohibited from import to the Kingdom of …
Thailand
On 1 September 2020, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) announced “Regulations of the Board of Directors of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand: Governing Rules, Procedures and Conditions …
Thailand
Department of Industrial Works (DIW), Ministry of Industry, Thailand announced “Notification of Department of Industrial Works (B.E. 2563 (2020)): Standard of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR-DIW)” dated on 2 June 2020. …
Thailand
On the last month article, we discussed the details of Pollution Control Department’s 3-year action plan (2020 – 2022) which will be used as an instrument to drive the national …
Thailand
Department of Industrial Works (DIW), Ministry of Industry, Thailand officially announced its existing chemicals inventory for the first time by the notification dated on 22 June 2020. The inventory, which …
Thailand
Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) opened a draft industrial standard “TIS 2368–25XX Electrical And Electronic Equipment That May Contain Hazadous Substances : Restriction Of The Use Of Certain Hazardous Substances” …
Thailand
In Thailand, Royal Decree on Good Governance and Administrative Procedures (No. 2) B.E. 2562, required all government agencies to prepare its own action plan. By establishing a five-year plan which …
Thailand
Department of Industrial Works (DIW), Ministry of Industry, Thailand announced a notice on its website in early June 2020, which calls for industries to contact DIW in case they wish …
Thailand
On May 19, 2020, the Thai Ministry of Industry announced “Notification of Ministry of Industry: List of Hazardous Substances (No.6) B.E. 2563 (2020) in the Royal Gazette. In this revision …
Thailand
On May 28, 2020, the Thai Ministry of Industry promulgated “Ministry of Industry Notification: Types of Raw Materials Used at Factories and their Sources B.E. 2563 (2020)” in the Royal …
Thailand
On 6 May 2020, Department of Industrial Works (DIW) of the Ministry of Industry, Thailand, announced an exemption of annual factory license fee for one year. This policy, which would …
Thailand
In April 2020, Department of Industrial Works (DIW) of the Ministry of Industry, Thailand, opened a draft notification for public comment. The draft proposed to extend a list of target …
Thailand
Thailand Ministry of Industry established Notification of Ministry of Industry regarding criteria, standards and methods for evaluation and approval of temporary use of industrial wastewater in agricultural field dated on …
Thailand
On December 23, 2019, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health announced a ban on the production, import and sale of cosmetics containing plastic microbeads, effective January 1, 2020, under the Cosmetics …
Thailand
On 28 November 2019, Department of Industrial Works (DIW) ,Ministry of Industry, Thailand, published a Notification of Department of Industrial Works regarding notification, license application and issuance of pass certification …
Thailand
On 18 October 2019, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand promulgated “Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Notification regarding standard of odor emitted from rubber factory” in the …
Thailand
On 29 October 2019, Greenpeace Thailand released a report about plastic pollution in Thailand. According to the report, 5 local companies including CP group and Sinha Corporation were identified as …
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