The government has ordered all agencies to closely monitor haze and dust issues, warning against illegal burning in forests, agricultural lands, and open areas. It reiterates heavy penalties including fines and imprisonment of up to 20 years and a 2 million baht fine.
On 29 January 2026, Ms. Airin Panrit, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government has instructed all agencies to closely monitor haze and dust pollution. It has emphasized strict legal measures to control open burning and burning in regulated areas, warning farmers against illegal burning in forests, agricultural lands, and open spaces, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, or both as follows.
- Burning on one’s own property or in public areas causing nuisance, such as burning waste or other materials outdoors, allows local officials to order cessation of the nuisance. Failure to comply violates the Public Health Act B.E. 2535 (1992), punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine up to 25,000 baht, or both.
- Burning near roads or highways within 500 meters from a traffic lane that causes smoke or other conditions threatening traffic safety violates the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979), punishable by a fine not exceeding 1,000 baht.
- Burning in agricultural areas, such as sugarcane fields, rice stubble, or open fields that could endanger others or their property violates the Penal Code Section 220, punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and a fine up to 140,000 baht, or both.
- Burning forests within national parks or wildlife sanctuaries carries penalties of 4 to 20 years imprisonment and fines ranging from 400,000 to 2 million baht, or both.
- Burning forests in national reserved forests carries penalties of 1 to 10 years imprisonment and fines from 20,000 to 200,000 baht. If the burned area exceeds 25 rai, penalties increase to 4 to 20 years imprisonment and fines from 200,000 to 2 million baht.
“The government requests cooperation from the public and farmers to refrain from burning to reduce the impact of PM2.5 dust pollution, which affects the economy, society, and health in both short and long terms, impacting multiple health systems. If anyone witnesses forest burning, waste burning, or open burning, they can immediately report it to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation hotline at 1784, the Department of National Parks hotline at 1362, Damrongtham Center at 1567, or the police at 1599 (available 24 hours) to help reduce PM2.5 dust and illegal burning that harms health,” Ms. Airin emphasized.