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DPIM tightens mineral imports to curb border water contamination

DPIM tightens mineral imports to curb border water contamination

MGR Online•Economy•1h ago

Reader Briefing

The Department of Primary Industries and Mines is drafting a new Ministry of Industry announcement to regulate mineral imports from neighboring countries to prevent environmental contamination.

  • •DPIM is updating mineral import/export regulations to replace the 2017 and 2019 versions.
  • •Five additional mineral types—antimony, lead, copper, gold, and rare earth elements—will now require import permits.
  • •Importers must provide additional evidence, including mining concession holder identification and Certificates of Origin.
  • •The regulation is expected to be signed and implemented in early 2027.

Overview

  • •The Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) is drafting a new Ministry of Industry announcement regarding the types and conditions of minerals requiring permits for import or export.
  • •DPIM aims to prevent and resolve arsenic and heavy metal contamination in border water sources caused by mining in neighboring countries.
  • •DPIM identified a significant increase in the import of antimony, lead, and copper from neighboring countries over the past 2-3 years.
  • •DPIM has added antimony, lead, copper, gold, and rare earth elements to the list of minerals requiring import permits.
  • •Aditut Wasinon stated that specifying mine coordinates will allow DPIM to use technology to evaluate links to environmental problems.
  • •DPIM investigated the export of chemicals used in mineral processing and found no irregularities in the export of cyanide used for gold smelting over several years.
  • •DPIM will post the draft on the central legal system website (www.law.go.th) for public opinion before submitting it to the Minister of Industry.
  • •The regulation is slated for signature and implementation in early 2027.

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Key Quotes

Aditut Wasinon
"The issuance of this announcement is not intended to ban mineral imports, but to require permission so that DPIM can systematically trace mineral origins and mine coordinates."
การออกประกาศฉบับนี้ ไม่ได้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อห้ามนำเข้าแร่ แต่เป็นการกำหนดให้ต้องขออนุญาต เพื่อให้ กพร. สามารถตรวจสอบย้อนกลับถึงแหล่งกำเนิดแร่ และพิกัดที่ตั้งของเหมืองได้อย่างเป็นระบบ

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Primary Industries and Mines(กพร.)
The government agency drafting new regulations to control mineral imports and exports.
Ministry of Industry(กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️
The ministry responsible for issuing the announcement to regulate mineral imports and exports.

Person

Aditut Wasinon(อดิทัต วะสีนนท์)
The Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines.

Place

Sai River(แม่น้ำสาย)
A border water source where DPIM has supported efforts to solve arsenic and heavy metal contamination.
Kok River(แม่น้ำกก)ℹ️
A border water source where DPIM has supported efforts to solve arsenic and heavy metal contamination.

Law

Ministry of Industry Announcement on the Determination of Types and Conditions of Minerals Requiring Permission for Import into the Kingdom or Continental Shelf, or Export Out of the Kingdom or Continental Shelf B.E. ....(ประกาศกระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม เรื่อง กำหนดชนิดและสภาพแร่ที่ต้องขออนุญาตนำเข้ามาในราชอาณาจักรหรือเขตไหล่ทวีป หรือส่งแร่ออกนอกราชอาณาจักรหรือเขตไหล่ทวีป พ.ศ. ....)
The draft regulation being developed to tighten controls on mineral imports and exports.