By Tanakorn Sangiam

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - An independent consumer protection agency said only a few face masks sold in the market are up to standards, with only 3 out of 14 brands tested meeting the quality criteria. Thailand Consumer Council is now urging the government to enforce mandatory requirements for all single-use face masks, similar to those classified as medical masks.

 

Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) disclosed an alarming result from their inspection of face masks sold to general consumers, where most of the models failed to meet the standards for general use.

 

From a series of tests measuring each mask’s properties including airborne particle filtration and breathability, the TCC found only 3 brands from 14 classified as masks for general use to meet the standards.

 

In another test conducted on 27 mask brands sold as medical and surgical masks, the TCC said only 3 brands passed the test.

 

The council has also tested the quality of 19 N95 respirator brands, from which 13 brands passed the quality assessment.

 

TCC Secretary-General Saree Aongsomwang said the results from these tests would provide consumers with beneficial information when purchasing a face mask.

 

The council also urges the Thailand Industrial Standards Institute to enforce a mandatory standard for all types of single-use face masks, which would require all masks sold in Thailand to comply with such specifications.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-12-01

 

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Going to tale a completely wild guess here and say this is probably more chinese junk

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Going to tale a completely wild guess here and say this is probably more chinese junk

Do I smell a cover up, or are we all happy-nappy?

Now they tell us! 

1 hour ago, RubbaJohnny said:

Do I smell a cover up, or are we all happy-nappy?

A face coverup, nicely done.

I wonder what face saving excuse they have for not creating such a standard when they first mandated the use of masks. 

Surely when they introduced the regulations it said something along the lines of "Masks must meet the following..........."

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Going to tale a completely wild guess here and say this is probably more chinese junk

BP has the list. The masks I have is on the list. Medimask. Made in Thailand.

Most of the masks people buy come from street vendors and are unbranded (aside from a small Chinese insert showing the name of a factory), so I'm not sure how this would even work unless they actively ban the sale of those cheap masks - which won't happen.

Why not tell everyone the 3 good brands?

3 minutes ago, rwill said:

Why not tell everyone the 3 good brands?

Because the other 11 might sue the author for defamtion. As usual in Thailand.

Totally pointless without telling the public which ones they are talking about

15 minutes ago, rwill said:

Why not tell everyone the 3 good brands?

That comes next once they have figured out how best to make money for their own pockets

 

If a government mandates the wearing of masks then they should supply them free

All 14 brands meet the standards for showing others that you are an upstanding, comforming, virtuous member of society. All 14 brands stop you getting dirty, accusing looks and a fine from the Popo. So they're all equally effective as far as most people are concerned.

So masks - substandard; plastic gloves - same; electricians/car mechanics/police/politicians?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In another test conducted on 27 mask brands sold as medical and surgical masks, the TCC said only 3 brands passed the test.

But the price and availability is right.

38 minutes ago, rwill said:

Why not tell everyone the 3 good brands?

Deformation?

1 hour ago, smedly said:

That comes next once they have figured out how best to make money for their own pockets

 

If a government mandates the wearing of masks then they should supply them free

Yes, no point in saying too much until you have cornered the market!

I would think more then 50% of the masks being worn here everyday dont meet health standards, i have seen   very dirty   masks being worn  by Thai's and Farang s .....need to be replaced

That's not breaking news and we have known that for a long time.

 

It's a worldwide problem with flawed surgical masks and cloth masks that offers very little protection.

 

It's a mystery why cloth masks are still allowed.

 

 

 

 

 

Passed the so-called test. 

Disposable masks:

⚡ LOC, Medicare Plus, Iris Ohyama

Medical masks:

⚡Nam Ah, Double A Care, TCH 

(Source: BP & Thaiger) 

 

That doesn't surprise me at all. 

Shouldn't they have set a Standard when they started A couple yrs ago and Test The product from each supplier before giving the OK to sell them. 

Nah, that would make sense. No can do .

Some masks you can tell the horrible quality.

 

Its got the "Made in Thailand" feel to it.

8 hours ago, fangless said:

I wonder what face saving excuse they have for not creating such a standard when they first mandated the use of masks. 

Surely when they introduced the regulations it said something along the lines of "Masks must meet the following..........."

"Masks must meet the following.... cheap, imported by my family, nice colour, with lots of stamps and approvals printed onto the box" 

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

So masks - substandard; plastic gloves - same; electricians/car mechanics/police/politicians?

Welcome to the hub of the sub-standard  universe.......

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Deformation?

And defamation too......

6 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

Totally pointless without telling the public which ones they are talking about

Please bear in mind what country  we are discussing...... 

Single-use masks?? I doubt it. Why throw away a good mask when its got a good few months life left in it? ????????

8 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Because the other 11 might sue the author for defamtion. As usual in Thailand.

How it can be a defamation if you tell NOTHING about a brand? ????????????

According to the full article in another newspaper where the full list of manufacturers is listed, I can't believe that a major brand with the three Ms didn't pass the standards of the TCC....

Another money making scheme me thinks !

Drive  out the competition  by proclaiming the masks that Thai's and others wear, suddenly don't meet someone from the govt quality approval standards 555

 

 I wear two at all times, when outside. Korea's KF 94's ! They probably are counterfeit seeing that my wife buys them online in quantity . IHNI. I haven't got sick so it must be working ????

Old saying, if it isn't  broke, don't fix it