Push to ease standards of steel imports

The National Standards Committee is planning to ease compulsory steel standards in order to pave the way for imports, but not all types of steel will be imported following the change.

Thai Industrial Standard Institute secretary-general Pairoj Sanyadechakul yesterday said his organisation had advertised the change, which needs final approval from the Cabinet.

"We expect to conclude our reconsideration in a month from now," he said.

The move follows pressure from contractors who argued that imports would bring down steel prices, which have pushed up construction costs and put some contractors out of business.

Earlier, the Thai Contractors Association called for the government to allow steel imports and relax steel standards in order to relieve the cost burden on projects by providing them with more flexibility to use either imported or local steel.

Iron and Steel Industry Club chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said that the easing of standards would prejudice the safety of steel-users and consumers.

"Nowadays, steel users can ask for permission to import quality steel from abroad. The public authorities should consider carefully and give priority to users' safety. If there is no compulsory standard, poor-quality steel will be easily found in the market," he said.

The new standards list will not seriously affect local steelmakers, because steel on the global market is at a shortage and its price is higher than that of domestic steel.

However, after a meeting with steelmakers at the Industry Ministry yesterday, Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti said the ministry would not relax compulsory steel standards, but would instead ease the procedure for importing steel.

"How can we cancel our compulsory steel standards? It will never happen. However, the TISI will continue its public hearing to reconsider lifting those standards. Several compulsory steel standards are advertised for reconsideration, but I insist they will not be relaxed," he said.