Sellers of goods and services, when placing advertisements or information about products online, are required to display product prices (in accordance with Notification of the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services No. 70, 2020, effective from 22 September 2020). Violation may result in a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
These “news” spread quickly online, although in fact they are not new. These rules have existed for a long time and are updated annually.
The regulations exist to protect consumer rights, ensuring that buyers can view and compare prices from different sellers before making a purchase. Many sellers disclose prices only in private messages, which violates consumer protection principles.
Who is considered a business operator?
A “business operator” includes anyone engaged in selling goods or services via e-commerce systems or online platforms. This also includes those who publish product information on company websites, Facebook pages, or Instagram accounts.
What must be displayed in addition to price:
Product or service details such as type, category, size, weight, and other descriptions must be clearly visible and easily understandable to the buyer.
If there are additional costs or fees associated with purchasing the product or service, the seller must also disclose these alongside the main price.
Language requirements:
- Prices must be displayed in Arabic numerals (other formats may be used optionally).
- Product descriptions must be in Thai language (other languages may be used optionally).
Sales history of goods and services:
If previously sold items and services are displayed on a website, their price must match the current offering price (except in cases where resale is offered at a lower price than previous sales).
It is difficult to understand the public reaction to this regulatory notice issued only five days ago, especially since it replaces the previous Notification No. 102 issued a year earlier, which contained identical text.
Perhaps the attention is due to the Department of Internal Trade announcing fines for violations, as well as a reward of 25% of the fine amount for individuals who report violations.
For any questions regarding compliance of Your online business activities with Thai law, please contact +6687 348-57-03.