Thailand DIW to Reinforce Control of Cyanide Compounds

Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW) is currently soliciting comments on the proposed updates to the List of Hazardous Substances (hereinafter referred to as the List), aiming to optimize the management of cyanide compounds. Thailand DIW has received information from the police and other relevant agencies that certain cyanide compounds are being used in illegal activities, posing serious risks to lives and human health. Therefore, Thailand DIW has conducted a review and deemed it necessary to enhance the control measures.

A total of seventeen cyanide compounds are now regulated as hazardous substances in Annex 5.1 of the List, of which six are Type 1, ten are Type 3, and one is Type 4. The amendment proposed this time is aimed at elevating the hazard type of six cyanide compounds (see table below) from Type 1 to Type 3, thereby imposing on them more stringent control.

In Thailand, chemicals in the List under the Hazardous Substances Act B.E. 2535 (1992) are subject to notification, registration, or permit/license, etc., according to the hazard type (Type 1 ~ Type 4).

More specifically, if the proposed updates were adopted, stakeholders involved in these six cyanide compounds will be required to comply with the obligations prescribed for Type 3 hazardous substances as the table below shows.  

The draft amendment to the List can be downloaded here. If adopted, it will come into effect immediately following its publication in the Royal Gazette.