“People’s Party MP” urges Cabinet to reinstate “PRTR Bill,” citing it as a starting point for pollution solutions

Today (17 April 2026) 10:00 AM at the press conference room on the 1st floor of Parliament, Ms. Kamontharat Kittisuntornsakul, MP for Rayong from the People’s Party, held a press conference urging the Cabinet to reconsider the draft Act on Reporting and Disclosure of Pollutant Releases and Transfers (PRTR), which has passed the committee stage and is still before Parliament. She stressed that this should serve as a starting point for environmental policy and achieving sustainable pollution solutions.

Ms. Kamontharat stated that the PRTR Act, or the Reporting and Transfer of Pollutants into the Environment Act, is a crucial law in creating a central database for reporting hazardous chemicals that affect quality of life and the environment. This will help the government plan for chemical disasters more accurately, manage pollution problems at their source, promote better environmental quality, and ensure citizens live in a safe environment. The law affirms the public's right to know, while the private sector will benefit from promoting good governance and supporting the circular economy, leading to sustainable industrial development, international recognition, and market competitiveness.

Ms. Kamontharat further explained that the journey of the PRTR Act in Thailand has been continuous for over a decade, stemming from long-standing demands from the public and environmental networks. Finally, on September 5, 2025, the Parliament accepted the principles and established a committee to consider the draft. After completing all sections and preparing for the second and third readings, the Parliament was dissolved. Today, with the new Parliament in place following the election and the Cabinet officially in office, she called on the government—particularly the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment—to reconsider and reinstate the pending PRTR draft.

Ms. Kamontharat further stated that Thailand has faced increasing pollution problems, including PM2.5, illegal dumping of industrial waste, and chemical accidents. These incidents include illegal industrial waste dumping in the EEC (Eastern Economic Corridor) area, the Mingti factory fire, fireworks explosions, and chemical warehouse fires in Ayutthaya and Ratchaburi provinces. Other notable cases include the fire at the Winprocess Co., Ltd. chemical warehouse in Rayong province, and most recently, the fire at the Better World Green Co., Ltd. industrial waste landfill in Saraburi on April 14th. These events reflect the failure of environmental management and the obstacles posed by outdated laws and enforcement that fail to address the growing pollution problems caused by industrial growth. Therefore, she urged the Cabinet to consider the pending PRTR draft within 60 days from the date of the first parliamentary session, in accordance with Section 147 of the 2017 Constitution, which expires on May 12, 2026. This will initiate the creation of a chemical database system in Thailand, making this law a starting point for sustainable environmental management, aiming for a Net Zero goal as announced by the government to Parliament.