National —
On December 9th, 2024, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan led a meeting with relevant agencies to address violations by foreign businesses and the influx of substandard goods.
The meeting emphasized coordinated short, medium, and long-term measures to achieve tangible results, particularly in regulating online imports from China.
Deputy Minister Napintorn Srisunpang reported that enforcement efforts from September 1st to December 4th resulted in 747 legal actions against offenders, with damages estimated at 11.72 billion baht.
Key sectors affected include tourism (85 cases), real estate (216 cases), and transport (10 cases). E-commerce imports from China, a major concern, dropped 27% in value in the first 10 months of 2024, from 18.68 billion to 9.12 billion baht, reflecting the effectiveness of recent measures.
The Customs Department reported 12,145 cases involving damages of 529 million baht, while the FDA took action on over 30,000 substandard products. Consumer protection efforts are also underway, with stricter labeling requirements and increased monitoring of misleading advertisements.
Additional plans include raising product standards for 58 more items, enhanced inspections at customs, and market surveillance to ensure compliance.
The Ministry aims to build consumer trust while maintaining fair trade practices, particularly with China, to foster long-term economic growth.
