Thailand Launches Review of Hazardous Substance Act

Thailand is undertaking a detailed review of its Hazardous Substance Act, which governs the management of chemicals and hazardous substances in the country. The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) and other government agencies responsible for hazardous substances, including the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock Development, Energy Business, Industrial Works and the Food and Drug Administration, initiated this review. Feedback was sought from industry and public stakeholders from August 1 to September 30, 2024. 

Evaluating the effectiveness and challenges of Thailand’s Hazardous Substance Act 

This review focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of the Act from its first enforcement on April 7, 1992, up until the end of 2023. The DIW aims to ensure that the Act remains in line with current societal needs, international standards, and social justice principles. Major areas under review include the definitions of hazardous substances, regulatory oversight by various ministries, and the role of enforcement bodies such as the Hazardous Substance Committee. 

Additionally, the review aims to address the challenges of enforcing the law across different agencies and to clarify the regulations for the registration, handling, and supervision of hazardous substances. Stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on a number of issues, such as the classification of hazardous materials, import/export requirements, registration validity periods, and coordination between government entities and private industries. 

Key areas for feedback in the review 

• Current definitions of hazardous substances and their production, import, export, sale, possession and labelling. 

• Oversight by nine ministries of DIW operations and the role of the Ministry of Industry in issuing regulations, setting fees, and complying with international standards 

• The structure and duties of the Hazardous Substance Committee, including whether the law provides clear enforcement guidelines. 

• The role of the Hazardous Substance Information Centre in coordinating government agencies and the private sector. 

• The system for managing hazardous substance categories ensuring specialized personnel in relevant establishments. 

• The need for advance notifications or permissions for transporting hazardous substances in categories 1 to 3, and the review of the six-year validity period for registration certificates.