Bangkok: Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, spearheads efforts to bolster consumer rights as she leads the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) in approving compensation of 24.29 million baht to consumers and intensifying efforts to tackle hazardous products. The board, under her guidance, is taking a proactive stance in addressing consumer grievances and enforcing legal actions against violators.
According to Thai News Agency, the 5th meeting of the Consumer Protection Board for the year 2026, chaired by Supamas, was attended by Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuaylue, Advisor to the Minister, Mr. Ronnarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), and representatives from relevant government agencies and expert committee members. The meeting aligns with the government's agenda, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, to safeguard consumers amid the growing challenges posed by evolving commerce, particularly online transactions.
The meeting saw the approval of procedures for handling 63 complaints, including 12 cases in real estate, 17 in services, 6 in general goods, and 28 in online goods. Civil action will be pursued in 50 cases, 12 complaints will be terminated, and one decision will be reviewed. Notably, 27 online goods cases will proceed as civil action. The CPB's performance over the past three months highlighted the successful resolution of over half of 11,434 complaints through negotiation and mediation. Compensation exceeding 24 million baht was awarded to 177 individuals, with 52 cases resulting in prosecution.
The board's preventive measures include collaborations with agencies like the Thai Industrial Standards Institute to seize illegal products and with the Royal Thai Police for operations against illicit e-cigarette trade. Critical cases, such as the Volvo Cars (Thailand) issue involving claims exceeding 533 million baht, were reviewed, alongside incidents like the Lat Phrao brewery fire with ongoing compensation evaluations.
Supamas stressed the importance of state intervention and legal action in safeguarding consumer rights, whether transactions occur online or offline. She emphasized preventive measures, including projects like "White Rental Business" for rental contract standards, the "OCPB Watchdog" system for real-time monitoring, and Right to Repair promotions. She also urged public awareness through dissemination of CPB operations and encouraged consumers to verify seller identities and maintain transaction records.
"My working principles focus on assistance, risk monitoring, and legal action in cases of rights violations," Supamas stated, highlighting the CPB's commitment to providing refuge for consumers. She urged the public to report violations via the CPB hotline or other available platforms, reinforcing the board's readiness to protect consumer interests.