BANGKOK (NBT WORLD) – The Cabinet has greenlit a draft regulation from the Ministry of Industry that temporarily exempts certain fees for inspection and certification operators, aimed at alleviating costs for businesses and certification bodies. This initiative eliminates the 1,000-baht application fee and the 10,000-baht certification issuance fee for certifications such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) and ISO 14000 (Environmental Management System).
Key Takeways
- The Cabinet in Bangkok approved a draft Ministerial Regulation for temporary fee exemptions on inspection and certification, effective immediately after its publication. The exemptions, proposed by the Ministry of Industry, eliminate a 1,000-baht application fee and a 10,000-baht certification issuance fee, lasting until June 30, 2025.
- The exemptions apply to certifications like ISO 9001 and ISO 14000, reducing financial burdens on businesses and encouraging participation in standardization programs. Despite an expected revenue loss of 2.64 million baht, the initiative supports compliance with international standards without major impacts on government revenue.
- The Ministry of Industry conducted the assessment under the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act, revealing that no mandatory certification standards require licensing under the National Standardization Act currently. The exemption decision aligns with the absence of Section 28 renewal applications for 2025, focusing the waiver on these specific fees.
These exemptions will commence the day following their publication in the Royal Gazette and will remain effective until June 30, 2025. The regulation seeks to reduce the financial burden on businesses while promoting participation in standardization programs, even though the Ministry of Industry anticipates a revenue loss of 2.64 million baht. Despite this, the measure is expected to enhance compliance with international standards and increase certification applications. Justified under the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act, B.E. 2561 (2018), the exemption reflects the absence of mandatory certification requirements under the National Standardization Act.
