Bangkok: Thanakhon Wangboonkongchana, the Minister of Industry, has directed the Ministry of Industry to enforce strict control over illegal battery disposal factories across the country, instructing the Permanent Secretary of Industry to dispatch letters to provincial industry offices to expedite investigations and provide reports within a month.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana announced that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry has been tasked with urging provincial industry offices nationwide to promptly inspect and rigorously enforce regulations against illegal battery disposal plants and substandard hazardous waste management facilities. These offices are required to report back on their progress within a month to mitigate pollution risks and ensure public safety. This directive arises from the current situation where numerous factories are operating without permits and lack proper standards in managing and disposing of hazardous waste, particularly batteries, which are considered a dangerous product. Improper handling of batteries can severely impact the environment and the livelihoods of nearby residents.
The Minister further highlighted that illegal battery disposal plants not only present environmental and health risks but also compromise confidence in the country's industrial system. Therefore, there is a need for strict enforcement of laws and regulations, with particular emphasis on proactive inspections to prevent illegal factories from persisting within the economic system. This initiative also encompasses the regulation of substandard products in the market, especially imported goods, alongside comprehensive management of hazardous waste at its origin, to bolster confidence in both domestic and international manufacturing sectors.
"This measure is a crucial part of the Ministry of Industry's 'Breakthrough-Pull-Down' policy, which aims to systematically address the problem of illegal factories and pollution at its source, while closely monitoring results to ensure that law enforcement yields tangible results as quickly as possible," stated Mr. Thanakorn.