BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the long-awaited “Lemon Law,” a landmark consumer protection bill that would make sellers more accountable for defective products and give consumers stronger rights to repairs, replacements, refunds, and compensation. The draft Product Defect Liability Act, proposed by the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), was approved during the Cabinet meeting on June 16 and will now be forwarded to Parliament for further consideration. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, said the legislation represents a major step forward in modernizing Thailand’s consumer protection framework and bringing it in line with international standards.
“For more than a decade, consumers have waited for this law,” Supamas said. “It will reduce the burden on buyers, provide faster access to remedies, and create a fairer system for everyone.”
Under current regulations, consumers who discover defects in newly purchased products are often required to prove that the fault existed from the beginning. In many cases, buyers are forced to accept repeated repairs under warranty conditions set by sellers, while pursuing additional remedies can require costly and time-consuming court action. The proposed law would reverse that burden of proof. If a product develops a defect within a specified period after delivery, it will be presumed that the defect existed at the time of sale unless the seller can prove otherwise.
For general consumer goods, that period would be six months from the date of delivery. For automobiles, the period would extend to one year. The legislation would also give consumers access to four forms of redress: repair, replacement, price reduction, or contract cancellation, depending on the severity of the defect. In addition, the bill establishes clear deadlines for repairs. General products and motorcycles must be repaired within 60 days, while automobiles must be repaired within 90 days. If repairs are not completed within those timeframes, consumers may seek a refund, price reduction, cancellation of the contract, or damages. For serious defects, consumers would be entitled to immediate replacement rights. General products could be replaced within seven days of purchase, while electrical appliances and electronic devices would carry a 14-day replacement window.
The bill contains special provisions for vehicles. If an automobile is found to have a major defect affecting safety and the problem cannot be effectively corrected, the seller would be required to replace the vehicle with a new one of the same model. Officials say the legislation will help reduce disputes between consumers and businesses while encouraging manufacturers and retailers to improve product quality and after-sales service.
The draft law has already undergone review by the Council of State and public consultation procedures required under the Constitution. If passed by Parliament, it would become one of the most significant consumer protection reforms in Thailand in recent years.
The law would apply to transactions between businesses and consumers, business-to-business sales, hire-purchase agreements, financed purchases, and exchange contracts. It would not cover used goods, live animals, or sales conducted directly between private individuals. Consumers experiencing problems with products or services can continue to file complaints through the OCPB hotline 1166, the OCPB Connect application, the OCPB website, or Damrongtham centers nationwide. (TNA)
