Thailand to ban single-use plastics from national parks

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand bans single-use plastics from national parks for the conservation of natural resources. The Notification of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on the Prohibition of Single-use Plastics from National Parks was published in the Royal Gazette on 5 April 2022 by virtue of the National Park Act, B.E. 2562 (2019).

The notification prohibits bringing and using containers made of foam and single-use plastics including:

• plastic bags with a thickness of less than 36 microns
• plastic food containers
• single-use plastic cups
• plastic straws
• plastic cutlery

The ban has been effective since 6 April 2022 and a fine of up to 100,000 baht would be applied for violation. Reportedly, plastic bags are considered a threat to wildlife as they have been found in the feces of elephants and a body of dead deer.

Download the original text of the Notification at
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/E/079/T_0006.PDF