DSI searches manufacturing sites of herbicides and insecticides containing hazardous ingredients in Songkhla Province claiming to be biological products

DSI searches manufacturing sites of herbicides and insecticides containing hazardous ingredients in Songkhla Province claiming to be biological products

       The DSI, by its Bureau of Consumer Protection Crime integrated its working with the Office of Agricultural Regulation, Department of Agriculture as the proactive measure to protect consumers from using agricultural products with hazardous ingredients.

       From sharing information, it was found that some business owners in Songkhla Province covertly added paraquat dichloride, a Type 3 Hazardous Substance, to agricultural products and then sold them to farmers under the trade names “Me Heng Rod Tang” and “Me Heng Knock Out”. The Director-General of the DSI thus assigned the Bureau to investigate the case. It was found that the “Mehengsiam Limited Partnership”, the manufacturer of multiple types of herbicides and insecticides located in Songkhla Province, advertised for the sale of its agricultural products in social media under the aforesaid trade names and claimed them as 100% bio-organic liquid composts, but with devastating weed killing effects unlike normal organic substances. The Bureau bought samples and sent them to the Department of Agriculture for testing for hazardous substances. The test results found the ingredient of paraquat dichloride, a Type 3 Hazardous Substance, a controlled substance under the Ministerial Notification of Ministry of Industry: List of Hazardous Substances, B.E. 2556 (2013), List No. 1.1, Substance no. 353, used as agricultural herbicide active ingredient, and fipronil, a Type 3 Hazardous Substance, a controlled substance under the Ministerial Notification of Ministry of Industry: List of Hazardous Substances, B.E. 2556 (2013), List No. 1.1, Substance no. 446, used as insecticide active ingredient. The inspection of registration data revealed no legal registration presented. Thus, the actions of the business owner violated the Section 23 of the Hazardous Substances Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), regarded as the offence of manufacturing or possessing of Type 3 Hazardous Substances without permission under the Section 73 and the offence of manufacturing or possessing of Type 3 Hazardous Substances without registering under the Sections 45 (4) and 78 of the Hazardous Substances Act, B.E. 2535 (1992). The offence with punishment under the Section 78 was determined in the annex attached to the Notification of the Board of Special Case (No.8), B.E. 2565 (2022) on Determination of the Nature of Crime Regarded as the Special Case Under Section 21 Paragraph One (1) of the Special Case Investigation Act, B.E.2547 (2004), Clause 20. Therefore the Director-General of the DSI accepted this case as a special case for legal proceedings.

       Today, (Tuesday, July 19, 2022) Mr. Triyarith Temahivong, (the Director-General of the DSI) assigned Pol.Lt.Col. Supat Thamthanarug (a Deputy Director-General of the DSI supervising the Bureau of Consumer Protection Crime) to order Lt. Pachaphol Suphanitworapath (special case inquiry official, senior professional level, acting Head of Consumer Protection Crime Division 1) and officers of the Bureau of Consumer Protection Crime to bring the search warrant of the Songkhla Provincial Court to simultaneously search 3 target areas related to this case in Hat Yai District and Khuan Niang District, Songkhla Province. The search resulted in the seizure of a large amount of unauthorized products containing hazardous substances as evidence for further prosecutions.

       The DSI would like to warn that the people possessing paraquat dichloride, fipronil and other hazardous substances shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 10 years or fine not exceeding 1,000,000 baht, or both. If the distribution, use as ingredients or sale of such substances to the public are found, the DSI and the Department of Agriculture will further integrate their working for strict legal proceedings against the offenders.

Dated July 19, 2022