“Factory Environmental Laws 2025 — What Business Operators Must Know Before Facing Shutdown”
The year 2025 marks a major turning point for environmental regulations affecting factories in Thailand.
Wastewater Control:
A ministerial regulation effective from January 31, 2025, requires all industrial factories and facilities with 200 or more employees to strictly control wastewater discharge to meet legal standards. The regulation explicitly prohibits the use of dilution methods to reduce pollutant concentrations.
Air Emissions and Odor Control:
The Ministerial Regulation on Odor Standards from Industrial Facilities B.E. 2568 (2025) came into effect on May 25, 2025. It covers 24 categories of factories and establishes clear odor concentration limits for both industrial zones and non-industrial areas.
Industrial Waste Management:
The Ministry of Industry is currently pushing forward the Industrial Waste Act, targeted for enforcement in October 2025. A key principle of the law is to separate waste disposal facilities from general factories under a dedicated legal framework, while enforcing the “polluter responsibility” principle, meaning waste generators remain responsible for industrial waste throughout the entire disposal chain.
For industrial service businesses, new requirements mandate achieving Green Industry Level 5 certification within five years, using at least 25% clean energy, and ensuring that recycled raw materials account for no less than 10% of total material usage.
