Advancing Thailand’s Legal and Regulatory Reform under the OECD Framework

Advancing Thailand’s Legal and Regulatory Reform under the OECD Framework

On 2 December 2025, the Cabinet acknowledged a progress report on Thailand’s legal and regulatory development under the cooperation framework with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Since 2018, Thailand has engaged in cooperation with the OECD through the Country Programme, with the objective of enhancing the effectiveness, transparency, and overall quality of its legal and regulatory framework. The Office of the Council of State (OCS) serves as the principal authority responsible for driving legal reform and promoting Good Regulatory Practices in Thailand.

Evolution of Thailand’s Legal and Regulatory Reform under the OECD Country Programme

Phase I of the Country Programme

During the first phase of the Country Programme, Thailand focused on establishing the institutional and legal foundations for good regulatory governance by aligning domestic practices with OECD standards. Key developments included:

• The adoption of OECD good regulatory practices to support the implementation of the Act on Legislative Drafting and Evaluation of Law B.E. 2562 (2019); and
• The implementation of capacity-building initiatives, including training programmes for government officials, to enhance regulatory quality and institutional effectiveness.

Phase II of the Country Programme

During the second phase of the Country Programme, the focus shifted toward enhancing regulatory quality to address emerging economic and social challenges, with particular emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens on citizens and businesses. Key areas of cooperation during this phase included:

• The joint implementation of projects between Thailand and the OECD aimed at modernising the legal and regulatory framework;
• The adoption of measures designed to reduce both the cost of living and the cost of doing business; and
• The introduction of proportionality principles into Thailand’s regulatory impact analysis (RIA) framework to ensure that regulatory measures are commensurate with their intended objectives and impacts.

Overview of the OECD Assessment

The OECD assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of Thailand’s regulatory policy framework, encompassing existing laws and regulations, institutional arrangements, governance structures, and regulatory instruments. It examines both ex-ante and ex-post regulatory impact assessments, as well as mechanisms for stakeholder consultation and engagement.

OECD Recommendations for Strengthening Thailand’s Regulatory System

The OECD proposes 15 key recommendations aimed at strengthening Thailand’s legal and regulatory framework and enhancing overall regulatory quality:

1. Promote evidence-based policymaking – Systematically integrate RIA into policymaking processes at all levels and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
2. Enhance transparency and accountability – Improve public reporting on the quality of RIAs and the conduct of public consultations.
3. Share regulatory best practices – Encourage knowledge-sharing and peer learning among agencies with strong regulatory performance.
4. Reinforce the role of the Office of the Council of State – Designate it as the central authority responsible for regulatory quality oversight and standard-setting.
5. Build policy analysis capacity – Develop multidisciplinary competencies within the public sector, including economics, data analytics, and policy evaluation.
6. Improve RIA and consultation guidelines – Establish clear and consistent standards regarding the evidence required for regulatory assessments.
7. Initiate RIA at an early stage – Consider a range of policy options and define clear, measurable objectives from the outset.
8. Introduce forward regulatory planning – Prioritize high-impact legislation and optimize the allocation of limited regulatory resources.
9. Ensure ministerial accountability – Require formal ministerial sign-off on RIA summaries to reinforce responsibility for regulatory decisions.
10. Clarify the timing of stakeholder consultations – Promote early engagement during the problem-definition stage of policy development.
11. Extend public consultation periods – Increase consultation timelines in line with OECD good regulatory practices.
12. Enhance the use of the central legal portal – Develop it into a two-way platform that supports transparency and facilitates public feedback.
13. Review laws based on their impact – Allocate review resources strategically to maximize regulatory effectiveness and outcomes.
14. Mandate post-enactment reviews – Ensure systematic and regular reviews of high-impact laws and regulations.
15. Develop a whole-of-government regulatory delivery policy – Integrate risk-based regulation, targeted enforcement, and effective inter-agency coordination.

Implementation Approach for Thailand

Thailand will implement the OECD recommendations through a combination of short-term and long-term measures aimed at strengthening the effective enforcement of the Act on Legislative Drafting and Law Evaluation B.E. 2562 (2019).

Short-Term Actions

Short-term efforts will focus on planning, prioritization, and capacity-building, including:

• The introduction of forward regulatory planning and enhanced public disclosure;
• The prioritization of high-impact laws and regulations;
• Improvements to public consultation processes; and
• Training programs on good regulatory practices for relevant public officials.

Long-Term Actions

Long-term reforms will aim to strengthen analytical capacity and institutional oversight mechanisms, including:

• The adoption of advanced regulatory impact assessment methodologies;
• Stronger linkages between pre-enactment and post-enactment evaluations;
• The establishment of dedicated regulatory support units; and
• Enhanced transparency, monitoring, and reporting of regulatory outcomes.

Conclusion

The OECD assessment and recommendations provide a clear and coherent roadmap for further strengthening Thailand’s legal and regulatory system. Through the systematic and effective implementation of these 15 recommendations, Thailand can significantly enhance regulatory quality, transparency, accountability, and stakeholder participation.

These reforms will contribute to a more effective and responsive regulatory environment that supports sustainable economic and social development, while further aligning Thailand’s governance framework with OECD international standards and good regulatory practices.

Author: Panisa Suwanmatajarn, Managing Partner.

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