Thailand
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Economy Detail
1. Laws of Metrology
The first Weights and Measures Act 1923 was replaced by the Weights and Measures Act 1999 and Amendment 2014. The Ministerial Regulations made under this Law are reviewed by the Council of State of Thailand before being submitted to the cabinet for approval. And the Notifications of the Minister made under this Law, with the advice of the Committee for Weights and Measures, CWM.
1.1 Legal Requirements for Traceability
Traceability of measurement in relation to regal metrology is provided by Sections 12, 13, 14, 15 of the Weights and Measures Act 1999.
1.1 Legal Requirements for Traceability
Traceability of measurement in relation to regal metrology is provided by Sections 12, 13, 14, 15 of the Weights and Measures Act 1999.
2. Legal Units of Measurement
The legal units of measurement in Thailand are defined in the Weights and Measures Act 1999 by Section 9 and are those of the International system (SI) Units and a few traditional units.
3. Structure of Metrological Control Authorities
The Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, CBWM, Department of Internal Trade, is the national legal metrology authority of Thailand, accountable to the Ministry of Commerce. CBWM is responsible to ensure the traceability of reference standards used in the field of legal metrology to national standards. There are now 28 local weights and measures offices spread throughout the country and 4 regional weights and measures centers. In CBWM’s office and local weights and measures offices, there are 154 weights and measures officials. Additionally, weights and measures officials are responsible for performing tests in relation to the average quantity of pre-packaged goods. Officials visit packers mostly without prior warning.
3.1 National Organization for Legal Metrology
Central Bureau of Weights and Measures
Department of Internal Trade
Ministry of Commerce
563 Nonthaburi Rd.,
Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 2 547 4360
Facsimile: +66 (0) 2 507 5890
Email: surachais@dit.go.th, surachaisungzikaw@gmail.com
Website: www.cbwmthai.org/
3.2 Custodian of National Standard
The custodian of the national standards of measurement is the responsibility of National Institute of Metrology (Thailand), NIMT. NIMT was established by the National Metrology System Development Act B.E.2540 and was founded on 1 June 1998 as a public autonomous agency under supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
NIMT is entrusted by the law to establish, develop, and maintain the national measurement standards, in all disciplines, and to disseminate their accuracy and standards and norms, to measurement activities carried out in the country. It has also been tasked to promote metrology related professions.
Developing and maintaining measurement standards and providing calibration services are, therefore, NIMT’s core competences.
National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
Headquarter
Technopolis Campus
3/4-5 Moo 3, Klong 5, Klong Luang,
Pathumthani 12120 Thailand
Phone:
+66 (0) 2 577 5100 (Phadung-matra Building)
+66 (0) 2 026 5400 (Chemical Metrology & Biometry Department Building)
+66 (0) 2 354 3700 (Acoustics and Vibration Group,Rama VI)
Facsimile: +66 (0) 2 354 3658
Website : www.nimt.or.th
E-mail : iro@nimit.or.th
3.3 National organizations responsible for maintaining primary standards
Primary standards are held and maintained by the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand).
3.4 Regional and local verification organization
At present there are 28 verification branch offices and 4 regional weights and measures centers, accountable to CBWM, spreading over the country. Each verification branch office and regional weights and measures center performs under the Weights and Measures Law and the policy of the Department of Internal Trade to inspect, verify all measuring instruments used for trade. In addition, each regional weights and measures center provides calibration services of working standards in its region for verification branch offices and of measuring instruments for general customers.
3.5 Instrument Calibration and Evaluation Systems
The Central Bureau of Weights and Measures is responsible for calibration, inspection and verification of all measuring instruments prescribed in the Weights and Measures Law.
For voluntary application, not legal, there are laboratories accredited by Thai Laboratories Accreditation Scheme (TLAS) provide calibration and testing services for the public.
3.1 National Organization for Legal Metrology
Central Bureau of Weights and Measures
Department of Internal Trade
Ministry of Commerce
563 Nonthaburi Rd.,
Nonthaburi 1100, Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 2 547 4360
Facsimile: +66 (0) 2 507 5890
Email: surachais@dit.go.th, surachaisungzikaw@gmail.com
Website: www.cbwmthai.org/
3.2 Custodian of National Standard
The custodian of the national standards of measurement is the responsibility of National Institute of Metrology (Thailand), NIMT. NIMT was established by the National Metrology System Development Act B.E.2540 and was founded on 1 June 1998 as a public autonomous agency under supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
NIMT is entrusted by the law to establish, develop, and maintain the national measurement standards, in all disciplines, and to disseminate their accuracy and standards and norms, to measurement activities carried out in the country. It has also been tasked to promote metrology related professions.
Developing and maintaining measurement standards and providing calibration services are, therefore, NIMT’s core competences.
National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
Headquarter
Technopolis Campus
3/4-5 Moo 3, Klong 5, Klong Luang,
Pathumthani 12120 Thailand
Phone:
+66 (0) 2 577 5100 (Phadung-matra Building)
+66 (0) 2 026 5400 (Chemical Metrology & Biometry Department Building)
+66 (0) 2 354 3700 (Acoustics and Vibration Group,Rama VI)
Facsimile: +66 (0) 2 354 3658
Website : www.nimt.or.th
E-mail : iro@nimit.or.th
3.3 National organizations responsible for maintaining primary standards
Primary standards are held and maintained by the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand).
3.4 Regional and local verification organization
At present there are 28 verification branch offices and 4 regional weights and measures centers, accountable to CBWM, spreading over the country. Each verification branch office and regional weights and measures center performs under the Weights and Measures Law and the policy of the Department of Internal Trade to inspect, verify all measuring instruments used for trade. In addition, each regional weights and measures center provides calibration services of working standards in its region for verification branch offices and of measuring instruments for general customers.
3.5 Instrument Calibration and Evaluation Systems
The Central Bureau of Weights and Measures is responsible for calibration, inspection and verification of all measuring instruments prescribed in the Weights and Measures Law.
For voluntary application, not legal, there are laboratories accredited by Thai Laboratories Accreditation Scheme (TLAS) provide calibration and testing services for the public.
4. Range of Equipment Subject to Legal Metrology
The Weights and Measures Act 1999 and Amendment 2014 applies to all kinds of weighing instruments and volumetric devices, except the kinds of weighing instruments and volumetric devices which the Minister shall, by the advice of CWM, notify to be exempted. Other measuring instruments under this Act shall be the kinds of which the Minister, by the advice of CWM, notify to be included.
5. Type Approval
There is currently no pattern approval function in the legal metrology system of Thailand. The draft of notifications of the minister of the process to obtaining type approval is in process of consideration by the Committee for Weights and Measures before submitting Minister of Commerce for approval.
6. Verification (Conformity Assessment), Inspection and Reverification
.1 Legal and Technical Requirements for Verification and Reverification
The Weights and Measures Act 1999 and Amendment 2014 applies to all measuring instruments intended to be used for commercial or for the purpose of the calculation of remuneration, tax and fee shall be verified by the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, Branch offices or the organizations, manufacturers or repairers designated by CBWM.
There are two types of verifications for the measuring instruments. The first verification of a measuring instrument, which has never been verified, is called an initial verification and the reverification after repairing and expiration of the term of validity for verification is called a reverification.
6.2 Range of Equipment Verified and Reverified and any Statistical Information Available
The range of equipment verified or reverified include the following:
The number of verification certificates that were issued for weighing and measuring instruments that were verified between October 2019 - September 2020.
The Weights and Measures Act 1999 and Amendment 2014 applies to all measuring instruments intended to be used for commercial or for the purpose of the calculation of remuneration, tax and fee shall be verified by the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, Branch offices or the organizations, manufacturers or repairers designated by CBWM.
There are two types of verifications for the measuring instruments. The first verification of a measuring instrument, which has never been verified, is called an initial verification and the reverification after repairing and expiration of the term of validity for verification is called a reverification.
6.2 Range of Equipment Verified and Reverified and any Statistical Information Available
The range of equipment verified or reverified include the following:
- Scales
- Automatic weighting instruments:
- Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems
- Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems
- Weights
- Measuring tapes
- Straight rules
- Liquid Measures
- Liquid-Measuring Devices
- Mass Flow Meters
- Water Meters
- LPG -Measuring Devices
- Rice Moisture Meters
- Corn Moisture Meters
The number of verification certificates that were issued for weighing and measuring instruments that were verified between October 2019 - September 2020.
Instrument Category |
Number of weighing and measuring instruments |
1. Non-automatic weighing instruments (NAWI) |
89,072 |
2. Spring scales |
659,160 |
3. Starch content determination scales |
540 |
4. Weights |
11,568 |
5. Measuring tapes |
2,070,173 |
6. Straight rules |
18,378 |
7. Liquid-Measuring Devices |
103,101 |
8. Mass flow meters |
2,362 |
9. Water meters |
55,689 |
10. Rice moisture meter |
658 |
11. Corn moisture meter |
350 |
12. LPG - Measuring Devices |
750 |
13. Liquid Measures |
45,027 |
6.3 Fee Structure
Fee for verification or reverification ranging from US $ 1-200 depending on type and capacity of measuring instrument.
Fee for verification or reverification ranging from US $ 1-200 depending on type and capacity of measuring instrument.
7. Accreditation and Certification Systems
7.1 Accreditation systems for legal metrology, calibration and testing laboratories. Traceability to national, regional, international or foreign measurement standards.
The Weights and Measures Act 1999 provided for private organizations, manufacturers and repairers, to carry out verification of measuring instruments which are produced or repaired, respectively. These accredited organizations are permitted to perform the verification test, issue verified certificates in relation to verified measuring instruments found on testing to be correct. The verification period for instruments verified by manufacturers is 2 years and 60 days for instruments verified by repairers.
To become a designated organizations the Weights and Measures Act, the business must operate a Quality Management System, which has been developed specifically for legal metrology in Thailand. The elements of that system are stated in the Weights and Measures Regulations 2020.
7.2 Legal and Applied Metrological Activities in Products Certification
Thailand Industrial Standard Institute (TISI) is the only authorized government organization that provides product certification. The license to use the Standard Mark on any product must be approved by TISI.
7.3 Legal and Applied Metrological Activities in ISO 9000 Quality Management System
Thailand has adopted the ISO 9000 series as Thai Industrial Standards in 1991 as the TIS 9000 series.
The Weights and Measures Act 1999 provided for private organizations, manufacturers and repairers, to carry out verification of measuring instruments which are produced or repaired, respectively. These accredited organizations are permitted to perform the verification test, issue verified certificates in relation to verified measuring instruments found on testing to be correct. The verification period for instruments verified by manufacturers is 2 years and 60 days for instruments verified by repairers.
To become a designated organizations the Weights and Measures Act, the business must operate a Quality Management System, which has been developed specifically for legal metrology in Thailand. The elements of that system are stated in the Weights and Measures Regulations 2020.
7.2 Legal and Applied Metrological Activities in Products Certification
Thailand Industrial Standard Institute (TISI) is the only authorized government organization that provides product certification. The license to use the Standard Mark on any product must be approved by TISI.
7.3 Legal and Applied Metrological Activities in ISO 9000 Quality Management System
Thailand has adopted the ISO 9000 series as Thai Industrial Standards in 1991 as the TIS 9000 series.
8. Legal Metrology Practitioners
.1 Numbers
154 officials are involved in legal metrology functions; 60 officials in the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, and 94 officials in the regional verification branch officials.
8.2 Qualification/Training
The qualifications of the weights and measures officials are in the fields of engineering, physics and vocational certificate.
Inspectors must complete the Inspector Training Course and be authorized by CBWM.
CBWM provides and organizes the following courses:
154 officials are involved in legal metrology functions; 60 officials in the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, and 94 officials in the regional verification branch officials.
8.2 Qualification/Training
The qualifications of the weights and measures officials are in the fields of engineering, physics and vocational certificate.
Inspectors must complete the Inspector Training Course and be authorized by CBWM.
CBWM provides and organizes the following courses:
- Inspector Training Course;
- Verification of Measuring Instruments ;
- Calibration of Measuring Instruments
- Checking the Net Content of Prepacked Goods.
9. Packaging
9.1 Legislative Control for Packaging
The legislative control for packing is prescribed in sections 62, 63 and 64 of Weights and Measures Act B.E. 1999 and the Ministerial Regulations provided protects consumers from deceptive or misleading conducts in packaging.
9.2 Organization Responsible
The Central Bureau of Weights and Measures is the organization responsible for packing control.
The legislative control for packing is prescribed in sections 62, 63 and 64 of Weights and Measures Act B.E. 1999 and the Ministerial Regulations provided protects consumers from deceptive or misleading conducts in packaging.
9.2 Organization Responsible
The Central Bureau of Weights and Measures is the organization responsible for packing control.
10. Sanctions
Violations of the regulations of the Weights and Measures Act can be punished as an administrative offence with fines of up to $85,000 and as a criminal offense with being liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding seven years.
Updated October 2020
Updated October 2020