The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) under the Commerce Ministry is urging Thai businesses to accelerate their readiness as Indonesia upgrades its halal certification measures, requiring all food and beverage products to obtain halal certification before sale, effective October 17, 2026. On July 27, 2026, Nanthapong Jiralessapong, TPSO director, revealed that Indonesia is elevating and expanding its halal requirements under the Halal Product Assurance Law (Law No. 33/2014) and the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) guidelines, following a two-year grace period.

Once fully implemented, all food and beverage products sold in Indonesia must carry halal certification. Thailand exported $9.34 billion worth of goods to Indonesia in 2025, with agricultural and food products alone accounting for $1.42 billion, making halal-affected categories including sugar, cassava products, fresh and frozen fruits, pet food, rice, wheat products, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages critical to Thai export strategy.

Under the new regulations, Indonesia has clearly classified products requiring halal certification and those exempt (Positive List), with particular focus on primary agricultural goods, seafood, and processed foods—all major Thai export categories. Processed products with multiple ingredients or additives must obtain halal certification from Indonesia or BPJPH-recognized foreign certifiers before import. Certain exempted agricultural products must be naturally halal, free of additives or contaminants in processing, with documentary proof of transparent production and supply chains free of Islamic-prohibited substances.

Indonesia classifies processed seafood with added flavoring, sauces, spices, or oils, as well as dried fruits with additives or coatings, as requiring formal halal certification and cannot claim Positive List exemptions. Examples include frozen fruit with added ingredients, dried longan, and fresh fruit coated with wax or beeswax for preservation, all of which are now considered processed and requiring certification. Genetically modified organism (GMO) products also require halal certification. Beyond product standards, Indonesia is developing comprehensive "halal logistics" measures covering transportation and distribution processes.

Police arrested a top-ranked gunman in a sugarcane field in Kanchanaburi on July 27 in connection with a shooting that erupted outside an entertainment venue after a long-standing feud. Nakarin, 34, was accused of attempted murder, illegal weapons possession, and firing a gun in a populated area. He was the 143rd most-wanted fugitive on the national police wanted list.

The incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between two groups. On the night of December 27, 2568, both sides, each with about six members, ended up at the same entertainment venue on Saengchuto Road in Muang Kanchanaburi and sat near each other. Tensions ran high as members stared at each other, but no violence occurred inside.

When the venue closed, both groups left separately. As they reached a hotel parking area, Nakarin's group leader approached Chalathit's group and fired first, claiming the rival group had drawn weapons. An intense gun battle ensued between the two groups. Phuwadet, the victim, was shot and injured while Chalathit's group fled. After gathering evidence and obtaining arrest warrants, police tracked down and arrested Nakarin at a sugarcane field. During interrogation, he confessed to the charges before being transferred to Muang Kanchanaburi police station for further legal proceedings.

On July 27, 2025, police officers from Ban Pet station, along with medical examiners from Srinakharinwirot Hospital and forensic teams, investigated a fatal shooting in a residential room in Mueang Khon Kaen district. Inside the bedroom, they found a 34-year-old man shot in the head, with one spent bullet casing recovered as evidence. According to investigators, the victim had been with 33-year-old Natthanichaa before the incident. The woman fled the scene after a gunshot was heard around 1:30 a.m., with neighbors spotting suspicious activity and alerting authorities. Preliminary investigation revealed the suspect and victim were former romantic partners who had broken up but remained in contact. Natthanichaa later returned to her home in Nong Bua Lamphu province, where she had her father turn her in to police at Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu station along with the weapon used in the shooting. Officers are traveling to bring her back for further interrogation and legal proceedings.

BANGKOK: Five Italian students have been fined after settling a dispute with a Thai woman over their behaviour during a BTS Skytrain confrontation that drew widespread online criticism last week.

Sirikanya Tansukul, a list-based MP and deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, criticized the government on July 27, 2569 for its careless approach to revising and expanding the state welfare card criteria, saying officials failed to consider the real hardships of ordinary citizens. Speaking at Parliament, she stated she expects temporary reinstatement of benefits over the next two months to address problems pending appeal, though she is uncertain whether other criteria will be reviewed, as the public has encountered rules that fail to reflect their genuine difficulties, including issues around debt and life insurance purchased by children for parents.

If further review is needed, the matter must go to the Public Welfare Committee, a process that could take considerable time. However, with the appeal deadline extended through the end of September, there may be enough opportunity to address current problems. When asked whether she saw the government's adjustments as easing social tension, Tansukul said the repeated cycle of reversals and rule changes with the welfare card stemmed from initial criteria that were poorly conceived and failed to prioritize public welfare. She concluded that the government's approach has been careless and error-prone, lacking thorough consideration and real concern for citizens' struggles.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Panjareungvorkul announced on July 27 at Government House that the proposed separation of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will be submitted to parliament during the upcoming session. After cabinet approval, the plan will undergo three parliamentary readings before being sent to the Senate, with completion expected by the end of this year or early next year, in line with the Civil Service Commission's recommendations. The new ministries will be named the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with clearly allocated budgets for each department.

Regarding concerns about budget reductions, the minister clarified that the existing budgets for sports and tourism operations will remain separate and clearly defined across all departments. Surasak expressed enthusiasm about UNESCO's formal recognition of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a World Heritage site, marking the first such monument in southern Thailand. This designation presents an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of Nakhon Si Thammarat among international tourists, as most foreign visitors currently concentrate on Phuket, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Hat Yai in Songkhla.

The ministry is prepared to launch additional promotional campaigns and coordinate with international travel agencies to attract more foreign visitors to Nakhon Si Thammarat and surrounding areas. When asked about other sites under consideration for World Heritage status, the minister mentioned that the Culture Ministry is actively working on Thai traditional costume recognition, though other site nominations remain less developed. Thai costume registration with UNESCO is expected to advance further and is anticipated to be another source of national pride.