Update on Thailand’s Transition to Risk-Based Chemical Management and Compliance Requirements for Industry Stakeholders

In light of Thailand's objective to join the OECD by 2030, the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) and the Ministry of Industry are accelerating the overhaul of the nation's chemical regulatory framework. Following the public seminar held on April 23, 2026, the following roadmap and key reform pillars have been identified for all chemical industry stakeholders (importers, manufacturers, storage providers, and transporters).

1. Timeline for OECD Accession and Regulatory Reform

The Thai government is currently undergoing a rigorous "Technical Review" phase led by the OECD’s Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee (CBC). While the ultimate goal is 2030, the next three years are critical for legislative alignment.

• February 2024: Thailand formally submitted its Letter of Intent to join the OECD.
• December 2025: Submission of the Initial Memorandum (IM), a self-assessment of Thailand’s alignment with OECD standards.
• April – October 2026 (Current Phase): Execution of the "4 Urgent Missions" project led by the DIW to bridge regulatory gaps.
• August – September 2026: On-site audits and surveys of chemical storage facilities to gather data for new safety standards.
• Q4 2026 – Q1 2027: OECD Fact-finding Missions to Thailand for on-site verification.
• June 2027: Formal Committee Discussion and evaluation by the OECD CBC.
• 2028 and Beyond (Leading to 2030): Enactment of legislative amendments (e.g., Hazardous Substances Act) based on OECD recommendations, marking the full transition from hazard-based to risk-based management.
  
  

2. The "4 Urgent Missions": Key Pillars of Reform

The DIW has identified four priority areas where industry compliance will be mandatory and strictly enforced:

• Full GHS Harmonization (Updating to Latest Revisions; 7th edition or)
• National Chemical Inventory and Data Integration
• Modernization of Chemical Storage Standards
• Implementation of PRTR (similar to TSCA, USA) and Process Safety Management (PSM)

3. Strategic Advice for Industry Practitioners

The pressure from international bodies like OECD Watch has accelerated the DIW’s timeline. Reforms that were expected to take a decade are now being compressed into a 24-month window (2026–2027).

4. Action Items:

• Budgeting: Allocate resources for SDS/label updates and potential warehouse modifications in the 2027-2028 fiscal years.

• Monitoring: Closely follow DIW announcements regarding public hearings for new drafts of the Hazardous Substances Act.

• Audit Preparedness: Ensure current storage practices are, at minimum, in full compliance with existing 2007 standards, as these will serve as the baseline for the upcoming stricter inspections.
  
  

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 I had some meetings with non-DIW staffs at the venue about this matter, but they did not actively express their opinions.