Thailand to add PFHxS to List of Hazardous Substances

Thailand's Department of Industrial Works (DIW) has held a public consultation on the proposed amendments to the List of Hazardous Substances under the Hazardous Substances Act B.E. 2535 (1992). The draft amendments published on 1 November 2023, include the addition of "perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds" to Annex 5.1 of the List, designating them as Type 3 hazardous substances. In total, 147 substances would be added to the List.

Stakeholders and the public were invited to provide comments and feedback on the proposed changes until 15 November 2023. If approved, the amendment would take effect upon publication in the Government Gazette.

Under the proposed regulations, manufacturers, importers, exporters, or individuals in possession of these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) would be required to obtain a license within 30 days of the notification's entry into force.

The move is in line with Thailand's commitment as a signatory to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Notably, the United Nations countries, including Thailand, collectively imposed a global ban on PFHxS under the Stockholm Convention in June 2022, with no exemptions, and included them in Annex A of the Convention.