Thailand to Lead Southeast Asia in Consumer Rights and E-Waste Reduction Pending Adoption of Right to Repair Policy

A new report released today by the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) and Rangsit University, reveals significant opportunities for Thailand to establish itself as a regional leader in the Right to Repair (R2R) movement and legislation.

R2R is the concept that consumers should have the right to fix their products, with access to parts, tools and documentation. From agricultural machinery and automotive vehicles to consumer appliances and electronics, many manufacturers have implemented physical, legal, and digital barriers to independent repair. R2R also provides legal protections for independent repairs and discourages software restrictions that stop replacement parts from being used, known as 'parts pairing', which significantly increase costs to repair.

A lack of consumer choice, higher costs, and environmental concerns have driven the R2R movement to advocate for greater repairability, successfully resulting in groundbreaking legislation in recent years, providing greater rights and economic benefits to consumers. Several states in the United States have passed such legislation, and 30 states currently have active R2R bills. Additionally, in the European Union an R2R law was enacted in July 2024 that, amongst others, prohibits manufacturers from enacting barriers to repair, and mandates that they provide spare parts and tools at reasonable prices.

A Push to Advance R2R in Thailand

The new research, which included extensive consultations with over 40 repair sector operators in Bangkok, highlights critical challenges in Thailand's current repair ecosystem. The study found that 54% of independent repair shops operate without repair manuals, while 96% cannot access parts from authorized centers or manufacturers.

"With 14 million smartphone units shipped in 2023 and smartphone penetration expected to reach 97% by 2029, Thailand's position as a major electronics market makes it an ideal candidate for progressive R2R legislation," said Ed Ratcliffe, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute, during the report launch at Thammasat University's Faculty of Law.

The research comes at a crucial time as Thailand's draft 'Lemon Law' undergoes review at the Office of the Consumer Protection Board. The report highlights the environmental urgency of the issue, noting that electronics waste constitutes 65% of hazardous waste from communities, amounting to 450,000 tons annually. Of this, mobile phone and tablet waste accounts for approximately 25,200 tons, with only around 21% being properly managed. Thailand is currently facing a major issue with e-waste, especially since China enacted an e-waste import ban in 2017, which has since led to a 20-fold increase in Thailand's e-waste imports, with Thailand importing over 28 million tons of e-waste in 2021.

The whitepaper outlines several key recommendations for developing a comprehensive R2R framework, including banning parts pairing, streamlining access to parts, standardizing pricing, and providing incentives for repair businesses. These recommendations align with Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model Action Plan (2021-2027).

The full report provides detailed analysis of global best practices in R2R policy and offers concrete recommendations for Thailand to develop its own framework that could position the country as a regional leader in sustainable consumption and consumer protection.

Read the full whitepaper here (https://seapublicpolicy.org/work/thailandr2r/)