BANGKOK, Thailand – The Customs Department has announced a full physical inspection requirement for all container shipments declared as metal scrap following recent illegal electronic waste discoveries in Rayong and Prachinburi provinces. Phantong Loykulnand, Director-General of the Thai Customs Department, stated on Thursday that authorities seized 10.29 million kilograms of hazardous waste and e-waste during fiscal year 2026. Of the seized materials, 5.29 million kilograms have already been repatriated to their countries of origin at the importers’ expense.
The measure comes as smugglers increasingly exploit metal scrap declarations—which remain legal to import—to conceal banned electronic waste. Between January and September 2026, Thailand imported 2.76 million tonnes of metal scrap, averaging roughly 14,600 containers per month.
Under the upgraded protocols, officials will physically unpack and inspect all high-risk containers and metal scrap shipments, moving beyond sole reliance on X-ray imaging, which often struggles to penetrate dense metal piles.
Long-term Regulatory Proposals
The Customs Department is working alongside related government bodies to propose a complete ban on importing metal scrap and rubber scrap, aligning regulations with the current ban on plastic scrap. The proposed transition plan spans 6 to 12 months to minimize operational impacts on domestic smelting and processing plants. During this period, imports will require official permits restricted exclusively to processing plants using the materials directly, capped at actual production capacity, and subject to mandatory pre-shipment inspections. (TNA)
