Photo courtesy of Phillips

 

In a decisive move to protect consumers and combat PM2.5 air pollution, Thailand's Cabinet has categorised vacuum cleaners and air purifiers as controlled goods. This regulation, advised by the Ministry of Commerce, is designed to prevent price exploitation and ensure these vital tools remain accessible.

 

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan underscored their importance in mitigating air pollution's harmful effects, particularly in homes. The regulation targets inflated prices and hoarding practices, making offenders liable to severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

 

 

 

As part of broader consumer protection, the government's action highlights these devices' critical role in public health. The controls apply specifically to certain air purifiers and vacuums with defined specifications. Sellers must report product details to the Department of Internal Trade monthly.

 

This initiative builds on existing regulations of controlled goods, ensuring fair pricing amidst rising pollution challenges. Consumers suspecting unfair treatment are encouraged to report concerns via the DIT hotline, reinforcing efforts to maintain affordability and access to essential air quality products.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-23

 

 

 

Considering the lack of consumer protections here, I seriously doubt any manufacturers would face prosecution. That is almost amusing. 

How about fixing the PM2.5 problem instead....

Add some better consumer protection too. My 2 Hatari purifiers s-ck.

No good service centers in provinces , hard to reach.

And overpriced filters.

15 minutes ago, rwill said:

How about fixing the PM2.5 problem instead....

Stop-it....

Do your homework before you buy.

Check prices of filters stc 

But yes government insead of getting involved in something you know nothing about stop the burning off rice straw. It's not rocket science, find the GPS contact the owner and fine them if they will not divulge the farmer renting the field. It's a simple as that.

2 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

Do your homework before you buy.

Check prices of filters stc 

But yes government insead of getting involved in something you know nothing about stop the burning off rice straw. It's not rocket science, find the GPS contact the owner and fine them if they will not divulge the farmer renting the field. It's a simple as that.

 

Someone should knock on Pichai Naripthaphan's door and share some insight of the problem. 

The manufacturers and vendors of air purification gizmos deal only with the symptoms being dirty air. Of course - in good old traditional Asian (except Japan) fashion - the customer is taken for a ride more often than anyone would expect. 

The problem (not the symptoms) is burning of sugar cane, corn and rice fields in an ever growing manner. Lock the owners of those plots up, slap very painful fines on them - irrespective of who triggered off the arson. Then you will get the people to avoid such nonsense; educate children in class rooms, less soap operas and more announcements by the health goons at the ministries of health etc. 

Everything else is the usual manure lip service for which (also this) government is known for. While it is a good thing to try to clean up the market from all those fakes the root of the problem is not the haze but the "creation of haze". 

Another fine solution looking for a problem!

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Phillips

 

In a decisive move to protect consumers and combat PM2.5 air pollution, Thailand's Cabinet has categorised vacuum cleaners and air purifiers as controlled goods. This regulation, advised by the Ministry of Commerce, is designed to prevent price exploitation and ensure these vital tools remain accessible.

 

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan underscored their importance in mitigating air pollution's harmful effects, particularly in homes. The regulation targets inflated prices and hoarding practices, making offenders liable to severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

 

 

 

As part of broader consumer protection, the government's action highlights these devices' critical role in public health. The controls apply specifically to certain air purifiers and vacuums with defined specifications. Sellers must report product details to the Department of Internal Trade monthly.

 

This initiative builds on existing regulations of controlled goods, ensuring fair pricing amidst rising pollution challenges. Consumers suspecting unfair treatment are encouraged to report concerns via the DIT hotline, reinforcing efforts to maintain affordability and access to essential air quality products.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-23

 

 

 

i can understand air purifiers. But why vacuum cleaners? 

21 minutes ago, thesetat said:

i can understand air purifiers. But why vacuum cleaners? 

Something to do with the quality of sucking in Thailand?

5 hours ago, FlorC said:

Add some better consumer protection too. My 2 Hatari purifiers s-ck.

No good service centers in provinces , hard to reach.

And overpriced filters.

If they suck you may have bought vacuum cleaners in error.😀

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

i can understand air purifiers. But why vacuum cleaners? 

Well let me tell you I have such a hoover, bagless and it will amaze you when you remove the various filters and start cleaning them, it is similar at half and full power and that just because of clogged filters

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

If they suck you may have bought vacuum cleaners in error.😀

Does Hatari have vacuum cleaners ?

I don't even want to go see on their sh-tty website.

 

I'll correct it : Hatari blows loudly . And their fans too, but then again they all do.

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Considering the lack of consumer protections here, I seriously doubt any manufacturers would face prosecution. That is almost amusing. 

 

In theory PERHAPS a good move aimed at preventing price exploitation.

 

But in reality, other than generating a lot of bureaucratic workload, it probably will mean little to nothing for the typical Thai consumer.  And there a lot of them throughout the country who earn minimal wages and don't have the spare money to spend thousands of baht on quality/effective air purifiers... Instead, they and their children just breathe in PM2.5 and pay the health consequences of doing so.

 

Hey, here's an idea... How about the Thai government actually doing something meaningful to reduce the agricultural burning that is the main culprit in the country's seasonal air pollution?   If they did THAT, then all of us would have less need to be buying and using air purifiers...

 

 

Good move

Unfortunately, buying air filters—whether HEPA or otherwise—is much more difficult and expensive in Thailand compared to Western countries like the US, where stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot offer affordable options. While there are many inexpensive DIY methods for air purification, such as the Corsi–Rosenthal Box, sourcing non-proprietary filters here is nearly impossible.

On 4/24/2025 at 8:33 AM, FlorC said:

Add some better consumer protection too. My 2 Hatari purifiers s-ck.

No good service centers in provinces , hard to reach.

And overpriced filters.

I've had a Hatari air purifier also, no problems so far.  The screen is really flimsy, but no big deal.  The price was way lower than other brands.  Try Pureburg (check Lazada) filters, they're excellent and 100 -150 baht cheaper.  Btw, I turned my Hatari air purifier into an "air intake" by attaching a box (plywood) and a 6 inch flex hose to it, and then to a vent cap through a window. This way I bring in and pre-filter air from the outside, and thus force the stale air out through other door/window openings.   This positive pressure in the room keeps dirty air from other openings from getting in, and, all my furniture and moldings, etc. don't collect dirt/soot that they once did.  Depending on PM 2.5, pollen etc. I change the filter every 2 to 4 months. 

On 4/24/2025 at 11:43 AM, Watawattana said:

Something to do with the quality of sucking in Thailand?

Nope, can't be that.  Found one that can suck a golf ball through a garden hose.

On 4/24/2025 at 11:43 AM, Watawattana said:

Something to do with the quality of sucking in Thailand?

Perhaps the gov't is trying to instigate a deep throat situation.

1 hour ago, deja vu again said:

I've had a Hatari air purifier also, no problems so far.  The screen is really flimsy, but no big deal.  The price was way lower than other brands.  Try Pureburg (check Lazada) filters, they're excellent and 100 -150 baht cheaper.  Btw, I turned my Hatari air purifier into an "air intake" by attaching a box (plywood) and a 6 inch flex hose to it, and then to a vent cap through a window. This way I bring in and pre-filter air from the outside, and thus force the stale air out through other door/window openings.   This positive pressure in the room keeps dirty air from other openings from getting in, and, all my furniture and moldings, etc. don't collect dirt/soot that they once did.  Depending on PM 2.5, pollen etc. I change the filter every 2 to 4 months. 

Well , mine are not good.

 

Maybe post a picture of how you modified it.

 

force the stale air out through other door/window openings.

 

You must have some big openings then. My windows and doors are near airtight with rubberstrips.

And yes in the bad season I have stale air too , can't ventilate because the air outside is very bad.

 

On 4/24/2025 at 12:43 PM, Watawattana said:

Something to do with the quality of sucking in Thailand?

Hire a bar girl. 

That’s a smart move, especially with how bad PM2.5 has been lately. I wonder though will this actually stop sellers from inflating prices, or just push them to sell under the radar? Anyone here already noticed changes in prices or availability?