MP Poonsak thanked the Industry Minister for promptly inspecting the factory releasing toxic substances in Chonburi. He questioned why, when the factory was found guilty of releasing toxins, only improvement orders were issued instead of using the authority to impose temporary closure.
On 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7, MP Poonsak Chanjampee, party-list MP of the People’s Party and member of the party’s environmental committee, stated that after calling on relevant agencies to urgently investigate complaints regarding industrial operations in Na Wang Hin subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom district, Chonburi Province, following residents’ reports of a factory illegally dumping chemicals and releasing wastewater into village water sources, he personally visited the area to verify facts and coordinated with the Chonburi Provincial Industry Office and Pollution Control Department to urgently inspect chemical levels.
Recently, Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, ordered the Chonburi Provincial Industry Office to conduct inspections and found some factories indeed releasing wastewater. Consequently, orders were issued requiring these factories to improve their systems within a set timeframe, citing Section 37 of the Factory Act, which states that if officials find violations or risks, a written order must be given to the operator to correct and improve within a specified period.
It was also found that the area lacked legal permits for industrial estates under the Industrial Estate Authority Act, did not have approval as an industrial operation zone under the Factory Act, and had not received land allocation permits for industrial use as required by the Land Allocation Act.
MP Poonsak expressed gratitude to the Industry Minister for urging officials to act immediately but raised concerns that when clear violations are found, the Ministry should use its authority to temporarily halt factory operations.
“What I want to point out is that despite clear violations, incomplete wastewater treatment systems, and the absence of air treatment systems, the Ministry has not yet invoked Section 39 to suspend operations. Is the intention to allow pollution to continue? How can the people live under such conditions?” he said. MP Poonsak added,
Section 39 of the Factory Act B.E. 2535 (1992) empowers the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry or an authorized person to order all or part of an operation to cease temporarily and to require urgent correction if the factory violates orders under Section 37 or causes severe harm to people and the surrounding environment.
“Another factory was found contaminating neighboring areas, causing tens of thousands of cubic meters of well water to become strongly acidic. I am concerned because no order has been given to investigate the spread of contamination into the groundwater used by local residents,” he said.
MP Poonsak also said that another missing element is the inspection of waste removal from factories. Authorities must verify whether industrial waste management exceeds treatment capacity and if waste disposal is conducted properly. Given the extent of contamination, Section 39 of the Factory Act should be enforced, but it has not been applied yet.