Somsak Khamthaweephrome, a deputy governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the amulet originated, said the regulations required mandatory registration of every reproduction of all Jatukham Rammathep models.

The registration requires details of the material used, the number of amulets made, and objectives behind each reproduction and detailed information on the "blessing process".

The blessing process must only be done at the Holy Pillar Shrine or at Mahathat Worra Maha Wiharn temple in this southern province, where the late crime-buster Khun Phantharak Rajjadej was based and helped create the famous amulets.

Those selling unauthorised Jatukham Rammathep amulets face criminal prosecution if they are arrested in possession of the fake items after the end of a grace period, Somsak said.

A committee representing provincial authorities and the local Buddhist office will be set up to regulate reproduction of amulets.

Office head Sonthaya Sen-iam said each temple received only around 20 per cent of all revenue gained from the reproduction of one Jatukham Rammathep model.

In one case, a temple received only Bt50,000, while those who produced the amulets reaped Bt8 million.

There are more than 200 models of genuine Jatukham Rammathep amulets but only one model has been registered for copyright protection - a model designed by retired Pol General Sanphet Thanmathikul.

Nakhon Si Thammarat metropolitan mayor Wiroj Phannarai, custodian of the Holy Pillar Shrine, said 51 reproductions of the amulets had been registered and the shrine service to bless the amulets is now booked out until August.

The service fee for each blessing has been raised from Bt20,000 to Bt50,000.

The competition among the amulet reproducers is so intense that those making one model reportedly hired craftsmen to design and produce an "earlier model" and mixed substandard material during the pressing process.

The practice resulted in the earlier amulets cracking and prompting amulet-seekers to buy the later model instead.