1 hour ago, treetops said:

 

Jeez, does it matter?

 

Even if 90% are wrong (probably less) it leaves over 100 accurate descriptions which still well negates the statement "there are no reef safe sunscreens available to buy in Thailand" which I was replying to.

Yes, for me, it does matter. Recently bought a Bosch hedge trimmer, which was asserted to be fake by Bosch, Thailand. The vendor had no qualms about giving a refund as they knew this.

Too many adverts for the same thing from 'different' vendors at different prices. 

I personally would now prefer to buy these things at a large retailer, eg Lotus, Makro, HomePro etc, so in the event of a warranty claim, there is somewhere you can take it.

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Yes, for me, it does matter. Recently bought a Bosch hedge trimmer, which was asserted to be fake by Bosch, Thailand. The vendor had no qualms about giving a refund as they knew this.

Too many adverts for the same thing from 'different' vendors at different prices. 

I personally would now prefer to buy these things at a large retailer, eg Lotus, Makro, HomePro etc, so in the event of a warranty claim, there is somewhere you can take it.

 

Not a lot to do with repudiating a statment that there are no reef safe sunscreens in Thailand.  The equivalent would be me saying there are no real Bosch hedge trimmers in Thailand which you could probably prove wrong in an instant.

 

As with any purchases on Lazada you have to do your homework or buy elsewhere, whether its hedge trimmers or sunscreen.

 

 

On 10/18/2025 at 3:34 PM, Georgealbert said:

Authorities are urging visitors to use environmentally friendly alternatives labeled “Reef Safe” or “Reef Friendly”

I support the idea, but last time they tried this a few years ago, it was simply impossible to find sunscreen labelled "Reef Safe" or "Reef Friendly" in any shop in Thailand. 

On 10/18/2025 at 3:34 PM, Georgealbert said:

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has issued a warning to tourists visiting marine national parks: using sunscreens containing chemicals harmful to coral reefs could result in fines of up to 100,000 baht.

Will the 100,000 Baht fine only apply to foreigners, while the thais will just get a slap on the wrist?

Skin cancer sufferers need to put on sunscreen when in Thailand. They have no choice.

The government is telling people what not to wear, so why don't they name the sunscreens that can be used?

On 10/18/2025 at 10:34 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has issued a warning to tourists visiting marine national parks: using sunscreens containing chemicals harmful to coral reefs could result in fines of up to 100,000 baht. The announcement came on October 16, 2025, as part of efforts to protect the long-term health of Thailand’s marine ecosystems.

 

The banned substances include Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor and Butylparaben, which are commonly found in many commercial sunscreens. Director-General Atthaphol Charoenchansa explained that these chemicals damage coral by inhibiting larvae development, disrupting reproduction and contributing to coral bleaching, which can ultimately lead to coral death.

 

Authorities are urging visitors to use environmentally friendly alternatives labeled “Reef Safe” or “Reef Friendly”. In addition, tourists must follow strict park regulations: avoid touching or stepping on corals, maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from reefs, refrain from littering and comply with all instructions from park officials.

 

The enforcement aligns with Thailand’s broader strategy to balance tourism with environmental conservation. Officials noted that coral ecosystems in the country have been under increasing pressure from chemical pollutants, coastal development and climate change. By regulating sunscreen use, the department aims to reduce human-caused stress on reefs, which are vital for marine biodiversity and local livelihoods.

 

Park authorities said that penalties will be strictly applied to ensure compliance. Visitors caught using banned sunscreens may face on-the-spot fines and repeat offenders could face further legal action. Educational campaigns and signage at popular tourist sites are being enhanced to raise awareness of the reef-safe requirements.

 

Tourism operators and tour guides are being advised to inform clients in advance about the new regulations. Officials hope that by encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour, Thailand can preserve its coral reefs for future generations while continuing to welcome tourists safely.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Tourists using sunscreens with four harmful chemicals may face fines up to 100,000 baht.

• Banned chemicals, including Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, are linked to coral bleaching and reef damage.

• Visitors are urged to use “Reef Safe” sunscreens and follow all marine park regulations.

 

Related Stories

 

Thai-tourism-economic-necessity-or-hidden-bias

 

National-parks-department-halts-elephant-trench-project-after-structural-collapse

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-18

 

 

 

 

 

they do love the tourists, I must admit...

5 hours ago, Mark Hopkins said:

What sources are you using?  I'm not sure many leading authorities would support that very controvercial statement.

life on earth are used to higher temperature and co2 than what we have in the current ice age

 

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Global-Temperature-and-CO2-levels-over-600-million-years-Source-MacRae-2008_fig1_280548391

3 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

we did not develope and grow in caves,,    we are not deep sea fish 

 we grew and evolved on the surface of the earth ..in the sun

Actually we did develop in caves - for shade and to avoid the worst of winters. Eventually we all came out of caves and lived in the open. Those in parts of the world where the sun shines most of the time developed darker skin as a coping mechanism against the sun's strong rays. For those in parts of the world where it was cloudy, colder and rained a lot, their skin color remained lighter. Then around 300 years ago the different races started to move around the world. Ask the 1 million white Australians who are treated for non-melanoma skin cancers each year. Health officials predict 2 in every 3 Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

🤣😂🤣, let's blame the tourists again and pick their pockets even more. What a load of rubbish 🗑 

On 10/18/2025 at 12:03 PM, WHansen said:

Looking for easy targets yet again. 

Exactly. Any tourist that gets hit with this "fine" is never coming back to Thailand. They need to ban selling those rather than going after tourists who are unaware of what they're being hit with. It's quite amazing how they do everything they can to deter tourists and at the same time cry that they're not coming.

On 10/18/2025 at 5:23 PM, ourmanflint said:

Thankfully fishermen and boat operators can drop anchors and dump rubbish on the reefs without worry. 
Also the fact that there are no reef safe sunscreens available to buy in Thailand is a bit of a problem you would think

 

Wrong, you can purchase reef safe sunscreens in Thailand. 

3 hours ago, Xonax said:

I support the idea, but last time they tried this a few years ago, it was simply impossible to find sunscreen labelled "Reef Safe" or "Reef Friendly" in any shop in Thailand. 

Watsons chemist sell some as do most dive shops or buy online.

look for mineral sunscreens with active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and avoid chemical filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate. 

On 10/19/2025 at 2:51 PM, Sir Dude said:

Erm, how exactly are they going to enforce these new regulations on sunscreens? 

 

Will they have roaming officials with some sort of sunscreen testing kit nabbing folks before they go in the water and swabbing their skin? Sounds impractical and petty to appoint sunscreen police.

 

The Ministry of Lofty Ideas and Grand Plans at it again, if you ask me.

 

Bit of a slow clap on this one for the pen -pushers.

Thank you for saving me the trouble of asking this really obvious question.  I am an Open Water PADI diver and have seen reefs all over the world.  Of course, I want them protected, but unless a diver has this cream literally "in hand" how (a) is an arrest made (b) a charge filed (c) the case tried?  Oh, my bad ... we don't even PRETEND to have due process in the Land of Surprises!!!  Just "Pay me or we deport you."  And they wonder why tourism form the West is dying.

What if there are no reefs in the swimming pool?

Ludicrous.  100,000 baht fine for this very minor offense.  Meanwhile, much more serious offenses are, what, a few thousand baht.  Totally out of whack.

11 hours ago, Mark Hopkins said:

On 10/19/2025 at 2:49 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

It's much worse, most people now realise that "global warming" is not a threat at all neither is it something that humans can do much about.

What sources are you using?  I'm not sure many leading authorities would support that very controvercial statement.

It's my opinion (and that of many well-qualified others) for which my quoting sources is not required.

On 10/18/2025 at 3:34 PM, Georgealbert said:

Officials noted that coral ecosystems in the country have been under increasing pressure from chemical pollutants, coastal development and climate change.

Not to mention all the polluting Thai tour boats... but hey, lets ban sunscreen

16 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Exactly. Any tourist that gets hit with this "fine" is never coming back to Thailand.

On the upside,  the U.S. is has quickly become 3rd world with an increasing amount of broke, unemployed women who are rethinking their life choices. In about 6 or 7 generations,  pretty much all of them should be back to factory settings... pretty sure. 🤔😋

What are the % that anyone is going to check! Wouldn't it make more sense instead of a common worker the government step in and cut off the manufacture , supplier and seller!🤣

I find it hilarious that anyone intelligent thinks we can still save the planet.

They are so worried about marine life!  Why not just enforce the laws on the books now instead of making new ones that also will not be enforced. Are bike helmets illegal?

On 10/18/2025 at 4:03 PM, WHansen said:

The regular oil spills from pipelines in the bay of Thailand being just one.

Blatant lie. Show us credible proof of just one (1) serious oil spill in the Gulf of Siam in the last 2 years. Or even 5 years.

28 minutes ago, saakura said:

Blatant lie. Show us credible proof of just one (1) serious oil spill in the Gulf of Siam in the last 2 years. Or even 5 years.

You are the blatant non-believer @saakura. Do some research before calling posters liars. To make your job easier use Grok or Chatgpt (if you know how to use apps).

At least 4 major spills in Rayong and Siracha areas from 2022-2025.

Plus numerous smaller spills.

On 10/21/2025 at 5:41 AM, SmartyMarty said:

I find it hilarious that anyone intelligent thinks we can still save the planet.

we have already prolonged conditions for life on earth by 60 million years by recycling co2 back into the atmosphere where it belong,

we are heroes