On 18 September 2024, Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW) introduced new regulatory guidelines on the advertising of hazardous substances under its authority. These regulations which aim to improve public safety and environmental protection, follow the most recent amendments to the Hazardous Substances (No 4) BE 2562 (2019) and will take effect the day after the announcement is published in the Government Gazette. This draft guideline is now subject to public consultation from 18 September to 5 October 2024.  

New Guidelines for Advertising of Hazardous Substances 

Under the new announcement, hazardous substances under the responsibility of DIW must adhere to stringent guidelines when advertised. The guidelines focus on providing clear instructions, safety warnings and relevant hazard symbols to safeguard human health and the environment. 

Key Requirements for Advertising Hazardous Substances: 

1. Product Information: Advertisements must clearly display the name, trade name, ratio, use, importer/distributor details of the hazardous substances. 

2. Safety Warnings: All ads must include appropriate advice and warnings about the dangers of hazardous substances, including the required pictograms, signal words and hazard statements. 

3. Prohibition of Misleading Information: Advertisement must not contain ambiguous or misleading content that could lead to improper use of hazardous substances. 

4. Restricted Media Use: Advertising through electronic media such as radio, television, online platforms and digital platforms is strictly prohibited. 

5. Prohibition of Advertising: Advertising of hazardous substances that are fake, substandard, deteriorated, or unregistered are completely banned. 

List of Regulated Hazardous Substances 

The list of hazardous substances regulated under these guidelines includes various cyanides and other potentially dangerous chemicals. This move by the DIW is in line with Thailand's continued efforts to enhance public safety and ensure that the use of hazardous substances is well regulated. The Department encourages all manufacturers and distributors to strictly adhere to the new regulations to avoid penalties. 

On 2 February 2024, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted two draft notifications to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The goal of both drafts is to protect human health and provide an update on the overall proportion of alcohol in alcohol-based hand sanitizers.  

Notification 1: Determining the Characteristics of Cosmetics Containing Alcohol for Hand Sanitizing Prohibited for Manufacture, Import, or Sale 

The draft notification prohibits the manufacture, import, or sale of cosmetics containing alcohol for hand sanitizing purposes if they have a concentration of either ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, or a mixture thereof of less than 70% by volume or less than 65% by weight. These products are intended to clean hands without the use of water. 

Notification 2: Determining the Criteria for Deviation Limits of Main Ingredients in Cosmetics Containing Alcohol for Hand Sanitizing 

This draft notification sets out the criteria for deviation limits of alcohol in cosmetics containing alcohol for hand sanitizing, specifying that they must contain not less than 15% and not more than 18% as notified to the Regulatory Body. 

In both notifications "alcohol" refers to ethyl alcohol (ethanol), isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol), and n-propyl alcohol (n-propanol) in cosmetics containing alcohol for hand sanitizing. 

The drafts will be available for public comment for the next sixty days. The day following their publication in the Government Gazette will mark the effective date which has not yet been determined.