a b s t r a c t
As an agricultural country and one of the world’s major food exporters, Thailand relies
heavily on the use of pesticides to protect crops and increase yields. During the past decade,
the Kingdom of Thailand has experienced an approximate four-fold increase in pesticide
use. This increase presents a challenge for the Royal Thai Government in effectively
managing and controlling pesticide use based upon the current policies and legal infrastructure.
We have reviewed several key components for managing agricultural pesticides
in Thailand. One of the main obstacles to effective pesticide regulation in Thailand is the
lack of a consolidated, uniform system designed specifically for pesticide management. This
deficit has weakened the enforcement of existing regulations, resulting in misuse/overuse
of pesticides, and consequently, increased environmental contamination and human
exposure. This article provides a systematic review of how agricultural pesticides are
regulated in Thailand. In addition, we provide our perspectives on the current state of
pesticide management, the potential health effects of widespread, largely uncontrolled use
of pesticides on the Thai people and ways to improve pesticide management in Thailand.