FTI pushes for tougher steel checks

Substandard imports 'need to be stopped'

- POST REPORTERS

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has put forward recommendations to address the issue of substandard steel in the wake of the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building, raising concerns that substandard steel played a role in the disaster.

Bantoon Jitcherdchoo, chairman of the FTI's Iron and Steel Industry Group, said that, firstly, production must adhere to strict quality standards, and regulatory oversight should be reinforced.

Consumers, he said, should be educated on selecting quality-certified products over cheaper, substandard alternatives.

Additionally, supported products such as prefabricated steel structures, of which 700,000 tonnes were imported in 2024, must undergo mandatory quality inspection.

He said enhancing transparency in quality control is among the crucial recommendations.

Measures should be implemented to track and verify steel quality from production to final use, he said. This includes stricter enforcement of industrial certification standards and traceability of steel in the marketplace.