12 January 2010

Commodities Control Act
B.E. 2495 (1952)
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BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.
Given on the 23rd day of February B.E. 2495;
Being the 7th Year of the Present Reign.

Authorized Official Translation

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is graciously pleased to proclaim that :

Whereas it is expedient to have the law on control of commodities for the sake of public safety in accordance with the prevailing condition;

Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the Assembly of the People’s -Representatives as follows;

Section 1 This Act is called the ”Commodities Control Act, B.E. 2495”.

Section 2 This Act shall come into force as from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette and shall be effective in the areas to be specified by Royal Decrees.

Section 3 In this Act,
“Commodities” means consumer goods, and also includes articles as specified by Ministerial Regulations issued under this Act;

“Competent official” means a person appointed by the Minister for the execution of this Act or Royal Decrees issued under this Act;

“Dispose” includes the transfer of right, proprietary right and ownership whatsoever the case may be;

“Minister” means the Minister having charge and control of the execution of this Act.

Section 4 If the prevailing conditions render it the most appropriate means of protecting the public safety, the national economics and stability, the Government shall have the power to control commodities.

Section 5 The exercise of control as stated in Section 4 shall be specified by Royal Decrees for the following purposes;

1.To limit the quantities of commodities which a person will be able to have in his possession;
2.To limit the quantities of commodities which a person will be able to obtain;
3.To lay down regulations in trade, disposal, keeping in storage and whatsoever activities concerning commodities as well as the exercise of control over all the trading places which sell commodities;
4.To determine the time, the premise and activities in disposal of commodities;
5.To determine kind, quantities and type of commodities which will be allowed for disposal;
6.To prohibit disposal or use of commodities;
7.To determine methods of commodities sharing;
8.To determine business and other method for the attainment of the objectives set forth in Section 4.

Section 6 Kind and type of commodities to be controlled shall be specified by Ministerial Regulations.

Section 7 The competent officials in charge of the execution of this Act or Royal Decrees issued under this Act shall have identification cards as prescribed by Ministerial Regulation.

Section 8 For the execution of this Act and Royal Decrees issued under this Act, the competent official shall have the power to search any dwelling or places in the day-time between sunrise and sunset where there is a reasonable ground to suspect that Royal Decrees issued under this Act have been violated.

Section 9 Any person who violates Royal Decrees issued under this Act shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding ten years or a fine of not exceeding fifty thousand baht or to both. If that person commits an offence hereunder again, the punishment shall be double.

The commodities which constitute the corpus deficit shall be forfeited.

Section 10 In the execution of this Act and Royal Decrees issued under this Act, any competent official whose act constitutes an offence under the Penal Code, Book II, Part I, Chapter II from Section 129 to Section 146, shall be liable to double penalty imposed for such offence.

Section 11 The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Commerce shall have charge and control of the execution of this Act and the power to appoint competent officials by issuing Ministerial Regulations and prescribe other activities for the execution of this Act.

Ministerial Regulations when published in the Government Gazette shall be effective.

Countersigned by

General P. Phiboonsongkram

Prime Minister
(Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 69, Part 12, dated 26th February B.E. 2495)
Translation