Vision

“To be the leading agency for consumer protection for hazardous substances used in household and public health products.

Mission :

  1. To regulate the hazardous substances used in household and public health products to ensure their quality and safety
  2. To strengthen and build up capacity of hazardous substance entrepreneurs
  3. To improve and enhance the effectiveness of operating system and human resources.
  4. To promote and develop knowledge and research on hazardous substance product

Background

Hazardous Substances Control Group, Bureau of Cosmetic & Hazardous Substances Control, Food and Drug   Administration, is responsible for regulating the hazardous substance products for household and public health use to meet quality and safety standards by the empowerment of the Hazardous Substance Act B.E.2535 (1992).

The hazardous substances used in household or public health products, include:

  1. Public health pesticides – Any products containing pesticides or rodenticides, such as mosquito coils, insect repellents, ectoparasiticides, rat killers, ant killers, cockroach killers, and termiticides.
  2. Cleaning products – Any products used for cleaning any surfaces or materials, such as dishwashing products, liquid laundry detergents, toilet cleaners, glass cleaners and car washing products.
  3. Disinfectants – Any products containing antimicrobial agents, except those products used for pharmaceuticals and for medical devices.
  4. Other consumer products – Other products such as drain opening products, paper correction products, alkyl cyanoacrylate adhesive.

 

Structure of the Hazardous Substance Act

After World War II, a lot of DDT was used in wiping out malaria. The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture and chemicals in industries led up to the promulgation of the Toxic Substance Act B.E.2510 (1967). Toxic substances were classified into 2 classes; very toxic substances and toxic substances. Three responsible agencies, namely Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Ministry of Industry, were involved. Later in 1973, some more measures on registration procedures and manufacturing, trade and import of toxic substances were dded to the amendment of the Act, which was promulgated as the “Toxic Substance Act ,2nd Amendment, B.E.2516 (1973)”.

In 1992, the Hazardous Substance Act B.E.2535 (1992) was promulgated instead of the Toxic Substance Act B.E.2510 (1967). The new Act included the classification of hazardous substances into 4 types according to the degree of hazards and the needs for control and expanded its scope for thorough control. In addition, more responsible agencies were involved.The Hazardous Substances Act B.E.2535 (1992) came into force in 1995 after the announcement of the hazardous substance list. The hazardous substance list is periodically reviewed and updated to cover more hazard chemicals by taking into account chemical data, regulations in other countries and related conventions and international agreements.

In 2001, the Hazardous Substance Act (2nd Amendment) B.E.2544 (2001) were enacted by adding provisions on the Chemical Weapons Convention and its penalty. In 2008, the Hazardous Substance Act (3rd Amendment) B.E.2551 (2008) was promulgated. The Act was amended for more appropriated control of hazardous substances in the present situation, such as the stipulation of validity of type 2 hazardous substances notification receipt (not exceeding 3 years from the date of issuance) , the stipulation of validity of registration certification (not exceeding 6 years from the date of issuance) and the revision of the rates of fees

Responsibilities

Pre-marketing control
  • Granting approval for registration of hazardous substance products used in household and public health, e.g., public health pesticides, disinfectants, cleaning products and other hazardous substance products
  • Granting permission for manufacturing, import, export and possession for professional use
  • Granting product information receipt for manufacturing and import of Type 1 hazardous substance
  • Granting notification receipt for manufacturing, import, export and possession for professional use of Type 2 hazardous substance
  • Granting related certificates such as certificate of free sale
  • Granting approval for the request for changing context and details on licenses or product registration certificates
Post-marketing control
  • Inspecting enterprise premises for manufacturing, import, export and possession of hazardous substances, for licensing and surveillance purposes
  • Inspecting products after placing on the market
  • Law enforcement
  • Auditing manufacturing sites in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guidelines
Strategic planning and policy development
  • Planning, budgeting and project evaluation
  • Developing IT system of the hazardous substances control group
  • Improving organizational performance
  • Developing and training human resources
  • Building up capacity of business sector
Standard and Regulation Development
  • Reviewing and assessing chemical data and chemical product information in order to assess risks and hazards and place appropriate control measures
  • Considering whether or not substances or products are under regulations
  • Setting measures and criteria/legal procedures in order to regulate hazardous substance properly and safely
  • Serving as the secretariat of sub-committee on standards and registration of hazardous substances used in household and public health and coordinating with the hazardous substance committee and related sub-committees (external agencies)
  • Coordinating for International affairs
General administration
  • Administration of documentation, finance, personnel, procurement and supply
  • Facilitating and assisting tasks such as coordinating, arranging meeting room, vehicle Arrangement

History of the Hazardous substances Act

After World War II, a lot of DDT was used in wiping out malaria. The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture and chemicals in industries led up to the promulgation of the Toxic Substance Act B.E.2510 (1967). Toxic substances were classified into 2 classes; very toxic substances and toxic substances. Three responsible agencies, namely Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Ministry of Industry, were involved. Later in 1973, some more measures on registration procedures and manufacturing, trade and import of toxic substances were dded to the amendment of the Act, which was promulgated as the “Toxic Substance Act ,2nd Amendment, B.E.2516 (1973)”.

In 1992, the Hazardous Substance Act B.E.2535 (1992) was promulgated instead of the Toxic Substance Act B.E.2510 (1967). The new Act included the classification of hazardous substances into 4 types according to the degree of hazards and the needs for control and expanded its scope for thorough control. In addition, more responsible agencies were involved.The Hazardous Substances Act B.E.2535 (1992) came into force in 1995 after the announcement of the hazardous substance list. The hazardous substance list is periodically reviewed and updated to cover more hazard chemicals by taking into account chemical data, regulations in other countries and related conventions and international agreements.

In 2001, the Hazardous Substance Act (2nd Amendment) B.E.2544 (2001) were enacted by adding provisions on the Chemical Weapons Convention and its penalty. In 2008, the Hazardous Substance Act (3rd Amendment) B.E.2551 (2008) was promulgated. The Act was amended for more appropriated control of hazardous substances in the present situation, such as the stipulation of validity of type 2 hazardous substances notification receipt (not exceeding 3 years from the date of issuance) , the stipulation of validity of registration certification (not exceeding 6 years from the date of issuance) and the revision of the rates of fees