Standards plan to go to Cabinet
The Industry Ministry is to seek Cabinet approval of its plan to set up the Thai National Standardisation Council this year.
The body will be a single national network that will bring all industrial standards together and reduce overlaps. The Thai Industrial Standards Institute will invest Bt824 million to establish a laboratory and develop skills and management capabilities. It aims to help Thai electrical-appliance producers sell their products in Europe. Pairoj Sanyadechakul, secretary-general of the institute, said that as many countries had joined the World Trade Organisation, standards had become a significant factor in global trade. Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras has, therefore, agreed to set up the Thai National Standardisation Council in order to increase the competitiveness of industries both domestically and internationally, Pairoj said. "Thailand needs to strengthen its system of standards to meet international ones, otherwise it will be at a disadvantage in terms of trade with other developed countries," he said. Pairoj said the prime minister or deputy prime minister would serve as president of the council. Some of its members will be the ministers of industry, commerce, transport, public health, natural resources and environment, science and technology, and agriculture and cooperatives. More than half the membership will come from the private sector. He said the Thai Industrial Standards Institute would seek a budget of Bt824 million during 2007 to 2009 to raise the standard for electrical appliances to the equivalent of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROH), the European standard. To lift the auto and auto-parts industry to international standards, the institute has asked for Bt1.76 billion for a testing centre. But to complete the centre, it will need to invest another Bt5 billion on an auto testing field. Charn Sanralertsophon, executive director of the Federation of Thai Industries, said although the standardisation-council plan would increase costs, particularly with the training of inspectors, firms will be able to more easily export their products. However, some industries may need a short period to adapt their management at the start, such as the food industry. Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul The Nation
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