The Department of Internal Trade announced that controls on “plastic pellets, seasoning sauces, and bottled drinking water” are now in effect. Producers, importers, sellers, and buyers of PE, PP, and PET plastics must report weekly purchase and sale prices, production, import, usage, and stock levels to prevent hoarding, price gouging, and refusal to sell. Seasoning sauces and bottled water are closely monitored, with legal actions ready if price volatility occurs. Additionally, stricter controls on eight previously regulated products have also come into effect.
Mr. Witthayakorn Maneenet, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, revealed that the announcement by the Central Committee on Price Goods and Services (CCPGS) adding three new controlled items — plastic pellets, seasoning sauces, and bottled drinking water — under the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542 (1999) has come into force upon publication in the Royal Gazette. This enables the department to closely monitor production, trade, cost structures, and prices to prevent hoarding, unfair price hikes, and refusal to sell.
Regarding plastic pellets, which are key raw materials in the petrochemical and packaging industries, oversight covers PE, PP, and PET types used to manufacture packaging like plastic bottles, bags, lids, and gallons. Producers, importers, distributors, and buyers for production must report purchase and sale prices, production volume, import quantity, usage, and remaining stock to the Department of Internal Trade weekly. This continuous monitoring allows early action before impacts on end-product prices occur.
For seasoning sauces and bottled drinking water, the department closely tracks both supply and price changes. Should signs of shortages or significant price fluctuations emerge, relevant legal measures can be promptly enforced to maintain market stability and protect consumers.
Meanwhile, enhanced controls on eight previously regulated products—including tissue and facial paper, shampoo, detergent powder and liquid, dishwashing products, sanitary pads, and both bar and liquid soaps—have shifted from requiring price notifications to requiring permission before any price adjustments are made.
Additionally, crude palm oil now requires export permits, changing from previous controls that only monitored transport and accounting. Palm oil for consumption also now requires price adjustment permission, a new measure. Onion controls have been strengthened to mandate reporting of import volume, sales, stocks, storage, and buyers, beyond previous rules on transport control and record-keeping. These measures are already in effect.
Controls over young coconuts and products, sea bass, and soybean meal are under consideration to protect prices and farmer incomes. The proposals are being reviewed with relevant agencies before submission to the Cabinet for designation as controlled goods. Concerning young coconuts, adulteration with additives or fake coconut water has reduced export demand, especially to China, causing prices to fall. For sea bass, large-scale smuggling from neighboring countries has depressed domestic prices, requiring close monitoring. Soybean meal quantities are being regulated to ensure sufficient domestic supply.
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