Arsit, Permanent Secretary of the Interior, following Prime Minister Anutin's directive, has ordered the elevation of safety standards for service venues and public buildings nationwide. He stressed that inspections must be completed within 30 days, and any venue failing to meet standards must be strictly prohibited from opening.
18 July 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Arsit Sampantharath, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, at the Cabinet meeting on 14 July 2026, assigned the Ministry of Interior as the lead agency, together with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Royal Thai Police, local administrative organizations, and other relevant bodies, to expedite inspections of service venues nationwide to be completed within 30 days. This aims to prevent incidents like the fire at a service venue on Lat Phrao Road, Chatuchak District, Bangkok on 12 July 2026, and to build public and tourist confidence in safety standards.
Mr. Arsit stated that the Ministry of Interior has directed its departments, provinces, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and Pattaya City to raise safety standards at service venues nationwide as follows:
1. Assign the Department of Provincial Administration to regulate service venues and establishments in compliance with the law and compile a database of inspection results. Provincial and district offices are instructed to integrate with relevant agencies to inspect service venues, establishments, and buildings with large public use, strictly enforce laws related to service venues and other applicable regulations, and immediately take legal action against any violations without exception.
2. Assign the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to inspect building structural integrity by supporting checks on building strength, fire prevention and suppression systems, emergency exits, building capacity, and engineering components. Expert engineer teams will assist provinces in inspecting service venues, establishments, and buildings with high public use. Local administrative organizations are also instructed to strictly enforce building control laws.
3. Assign the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation . to prepare for fire prevention by supporting inspections of fire prevention systems, firefighting equipment, evacuation plans of establishments, assigning staff to jointly assess readiness and advise on safety standard improvements, and accelerating fire prevention and suppression drills in cooperation with local agencies.
4. Assign the Department of Local Administration to direct provincial local offices to coordinate with local administrative organizations, integrating with provincial offices of the Department of Provincial Administration, Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and other relevant units to inspect service venues, establishments, and buildings with large public use. They must strictly enforce building control laws and publicize safety standards awareness among operators and the public.
5. Assign the governors of all 76 provinces, Bangkok, and Pattaya City to enhance safety at the local level, focusing on fire prevention and suppression systems, emergency exits, building capacity, life-saving equipment readiness, and compliance with laws and safety standards. They must integrate efforts to form "Inspection Task Forces for Service Venues and Public Buildings" at all locations to complete inspections within 30 days, covering service venues, entertainment venues, pubs, bars, breweries, restaurants with live music, public buildings, and establishments with large public use.
They are also to compile lists of establishments that have passed inspections and those undergoing corrections, reporting to the Ministry of Interior within the designated timeframe. District chiefs, district directors, and local administrative organization officials are instructed to closely monitor corrective actions by establishments and prohibit operations until standards are met. Additionally, a campaign will raise awareness for operators to strictly comply with safety laws and prohibit any actions that block emergency exits or compromise user safety.
Mr. Arsit added that the Ministry of Interior is committed to integrating efforts to enhance life and property security through rigorous law enforcement. Citizens who observe service venues, establishments, restaurants, or public buildings suspected of non-compliance or hazards can report via the Damrongtham Center hotline 1567, local leaders, or local administrative organizations for officials to inspect and enforce legal standards.