The government looks set to ban the import of used cars, claiming the move will protect the environment and curb air pollution in the country.
Acting Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the ministry is improving regulations on imported used cars after discussing the matter with related state agencies 15 times.
The ban would focus largely on the imports of used personal cars, excluding the imports of used crane trucks, those for official and private enterprises, ambulances, fire trucks, or imports meant for re-export.
Used cars imported for diplomatic purposes are supervised by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Imports of used personal cars to Thailand are not significant, with only 100 units reported to the Customs Department last year.
She said there may be a great number of used cars smuggled for sale into the country.
Ms Chutima said the ministry is open for comments on the issue from the government, private agencies and interested people until March 14, or through the Foreign Trade Department's call centre at 1385 or 02-5475124.
The ministry will later submit the proposal to the cabinet.
Fighting air pollution is on the national agenda, which brings together relevant agencies to tackle the dust in a sustainable manner.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha recently ordered ministers to find ways to prevent farmers from using slash-and-burn agriculture, a practice that generates PM2.5 particulate matter. PM2.5 dust is 1/20th the diameter of a human hair that can lodge in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.