Thailand Issues Ban Restricting the Use of Mercury-Containing Catalysts
2025-8-14
Recently, Thailand¡äs Minister of Industry, Ekana Phongpan, announced that he has officially signed and promulgated the Announcement (2025) on Prohibiting the Establishment and Expansion of Factories Using Mercury and Mercury Compounds in Production Processes, and Prohibiting the Use of Mercury and Mercury Compounds in Production Processes.
This announcement, which comes after the Cabinet¡äs in-principle approval on December 24, 2024, aims to fulfill Thailand¡äs international commitments under the Minamata Convention. It seeks to control and phase out the use and emission of mercury at the source, thereby protecting public health and the ecological environment.
The announcement will take effect on September 1, 2025.
According to the content of the announcement, the ban covers the entire country and applies to five categories of industrial production processes:
- Production of Chlor-alkali
- Production of acetaldehyde using mercury and mercury compounds as catalysts
- Production of vinyl chloride monomer
- Production of sodium/potassium methylate or ethylate using mercury as a catalyst
- Production of polyurethane using mercury as a catalyst
The announcement prohibits the establishment or expansion of factories that use mercury and mercury compounds in the above-mentioned production processes, and also prohibits the continued use of mercury and mercury compounds in existing production processes.
This announcement, which comes after the Cabinet¡äs in-principle approval on December 24, 2024, aims to fulfill Thailand¡äs international commitments under the Minamata Convention. It seeks to control and phase out the use and emission of mercury at the source, thereby protecting public health and the ecological environment.
The announcement will take effect on September 1, 2025.
According to the content of the announcement, the ban covers the entire country and applies to five categories of industrial production processes:
- Production of Chlor-alkali
- Production of acetaldehyde using mercury and mercury compounds as catalysts
- Production of vinyl chloride monomer
- Production of sodium/potassium methylate or ethylate using mercury as a catalyst
- Production of polyurethane using mercury as a catalyst
The announcement prohibits the establishment or expansion of factories that use mercury and mercury compounds in the above-mentioned production processes, and also prohibits the continued use of mercury and mercury compounds in existing production processes.