Thailand suspends new waste-plant licences and targets "3,049 factories within one year"; day one ends with one plant suspended and 63 told to make improvements

L2Who’s affected

Who is affected: People living near waste plants in the "five red-zone provinces where more than 1,500 of the registered factories are located" (Bangkok Post). Residents can report problems to the "Department of Industrial Works hotline, 1564, which operates around the clock" (Bangkok Post).

L3Why it’s quiet

Why it stayed quiet: Analysis: A domestic regulatory step announced during a provincial visit and covered by Thai outlets; we found no international wire coverage.

L4Deeper impact

Deeper impact: The ministry will "coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to investigate potential violations," and "authorities could pursue criminal proceedings under customs legislation, together with asset seizures where permitted by law" (The Nation). The suspension was ordered "under Section 39(1) of the Factory Act 1992, as amended." "Another 63 factories were identified for corrective action under Section 37(1) of the same legislation." Three more factories "are being considered for closure orders, which would result in the revocation of their operating licences" (The Nation).

L5Full context

Full context: "The first round covered 80 factories, comprising 26 Category 105 facilities, 52 Category 106 facilities and two factories operating in other categories" (The Nation). On Prachin Buri, Varawut said "the Department of Industrial Works had collected additional samples on October 31, including soil samples," and "Varawut acknowledged that chemical residues were likely to remain in the affected areas" (The Nation).

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