Thailand FDA Addresses PET Bottle Safety Amid Consumer Concerns

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reassured consumers that PET water bottles are not made using BPA, after social media posts claimed bottles left in hot cars or direct sunlight could release dangerous chemicals and cause cancer. FDA Deputy Secretary-general Pichet Puedkhunthod said yesterday that the information being shared online could give the public a misleading impression about the safety of bottled drinking water. Most drinking water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which must meet safety standards under the Ministry of Public Health’s 2022 regulations on plastic food containers. Eighty percent of Thai consumers purchased health-focused food and beverages in the past 12 months — more than double the global average of 35% — according to new research from PwC Thailand. Yet, health claims alone may no longer be enough to win consumer trust. The survey found that 91% are concerned about chemicals and pesticide residues in food, highlighting growing demand for transparency on safety, sourcing and proven value — and increasing competitive pressure across the food, health and technology sectors. Thailand’s economic growth potential has almost halved in two decades, while SMEs remain locked in their worst credit squeeze since the 1997 crisis. The Bank of Thailand now puts potential growth at just 2.7%, with GDP forecast at 2.3% this year and 1.8% in 2027. Meanwhile, SME lending has contracted for 16 straight quarters, retail sales have fallen 7.1% and loan rejection rates have reached 86%. Yet, exports and technology investment remain strong, exposing an increasingly divided economy. Assistant Gov. Don Nakornthab warns that aging, weak investment and slow productivity could drive Thailand’s economic ceiling lower still. Thailand is in a data center boom, flush with billions of dollars of AI investment cash. But these facilities weren’t built in remote, sparsely populated areas with uncontested resources. Instead, dozens of them were spotted across Bangkok, data centers that were unregistered or unauthorized. Thailand is scrambling to rein in these projects, but it has no intention of abandoning an industry that is single-handedly propping up its industrial sector. Video … Thailand must use data-center investment to create jobs and help local businesses raise productivity through wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), rather than treat capital inflows as an end in themselves, according to Arnaud Dupoizat, director for East Asia at the International Finance Corp. (IFC). Dupoizat outlined how investment in new industries could help Thailand move toward a higher-value economy, provided the benefits extend to domestic businesses. IFC is the World Bank Group’s private-sector development arm. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat has outlined six projects under the second phase of Thailand’s double-track railway program, describing them as essential infrastructure that must extend across every region of the country. A total of six routes have now been presented, with a clear direction for implementation. Three double-track routes in the south have now been approved for construction because they are fully prepared and the supporting information is complete. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is stepping up festivals, events and travel promotions during September–December to help generate 2.7 trillion baht in tourism revenue for the year. The high-season campaign covers domestic and overseas markets, with new airline routes intended to help Thailand reach 33 million foreign arrivals. TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the 2026 revenue target comprised 1.6 trillion baht from international tourism and 1.1 trillion baht from domestic travel. NationThailand put Thailand’s 2025 tourism receipts at 2.6 trillion baht and also quoted Thapanee as setting a growth target of at least 7% for 2026. Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary for finance, said the Finance Ministry and Excise Department had the authority to draw up excise tax rates for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and other vehicle types. He expected the proposal to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by the end of September. “We are not yet able to disclose the proposed adjustment to EV excise tax rates because it requires Cabinet approval. The Finance Ministry and Excise Department are responsible only for preparing the information. We believe it would be best to submit the proposal to the Cabinet as soon as possible.” Source: Hua Hin Today