Thailand Destroys 2 Million Counterfeit Items Worth 2 Billion Baht

On September 10, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Intellectual Property, in collaboration with government agencies, private rights holders, and international partner organizations, proceeded to destroy counterfeit goods seized in settled intellectual property infringement cases—over 2 million items valued at more than 2 billion baht—to strengthen Thai trade confidence and protect consumers from non-standard fake products. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthammapan delegated Commerce Ministry Assistant Minister Piyanucha Wuttisorn to chair the ceremony at the Royal Thai Army Air Defense Command Headquarters in Bangkok's Don Mueang district.

Wuttisorn stated that the government and Commerce Ministry prioritize protecting intellectual property rights through integrated cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders to seriously combat infringement both online and offline. The destruction ceremony represents a critical step in intellectual property law enforcement that must be conducted transparently under World Trade Organization commitments. Confiscated goods from concluded cases are destroyed to prevent counterfeit items from re-entering the market and demonstrate Thailand's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and building confidence among trading partners, investors, and businesses in Thailand's effective enforcement mechanisms.

This year's intellectual property infringement case destruction involved 2,085,705 items (up 36.45 percent from 2024's 1,528,524 items) valued at over 2.1 billion baht in damages (up 138.19 percent from 2024's 900.9 million baht). The increase reflects integrated cooperation with law enforcement agencies including the Royal Thai Police, Customs Department, and Special Cases Investigation Department in seizing and confiscating counterfeit goods from online and offline channels. Items destroyed encompassed apparel, watches, bags, electronics, auto parts, medicines, cosmetics, food and beverages, and everyday consumer goods. Destruction occurs at ISO 14001:2015-certified facilities in Samut Prakan and Ayutthaya provinces to ensure proper disposal without environmental or community harm.

Wuttisorn noted that elevating Thailand's intellectual property protection to international standards requires consistent enforcement coupled with proactive cooperation with trading partners, particularly the United States. Thailand remains on the U.S. Trade Representative's Watch List under Section 301 of U.S. trade law. However, the report reflects Thailand's strengthened progress in combating counterfeit goods and raising awareness among consumers and businesses about intellectual property rights to promote fair trade.