UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION  
 
 
  
 
 
MINISTERIAL REGULATION  
 
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD ON 
GOOD ANIMAL PRACTICES FOR ELEPHANT FACILITY 
AS A MANDATORY STANDARD 
B.E. 2565 (2022)  
 
 
By virtue of Section 5 paragrap h one and Section 15 paragraph t wo of the 
Agricultural Standards Act, B.E . 2551 (2008), the Minister of A griculture and Cooperatives 
hereby issues this Minister ial Regulation as follows: 
 
Section 1 This Ministerial Regulation shall come into force aft er two years as 
from the date of its publi cation in the Royal Gazette. 
 
Section 2 The Thai Agricultural Standard TAS 6413-2021 in accor dance with 
the Notification of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative s on the Establishment of Thai 
Agricultural Standard : Good Animal Practices for Elephant Faci lity under the Agricultural 
Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) dated on 24th May B.E. 2564 (2021) shall be established as a 
mandatory standard. 
 
 
 
Given on the 26th July B.E. 2565 (2022) 
(Prapat Potasuthon) 
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives 
Acting Minister of Agri culture and Cooperatives 
 
Remark : The rationale for the promulgation of  this Ministerial Regulation i s that : currently 
there are a number of elephant f acilities operating in Thailand  as a service business, e.g. 
providing activities of elephant t ourism or elephant shows. A b etter understanding of most 
elephant facilities on good practi ces related to proper managem ent and control as well as 
elephant care and raising is s till required to prevent elephant  health deterioration, abuses  as well 
as environmental problems from el ephant dung and garbage. There fore, it is necessary to 
improve elephant management, con trol and care in elephant facil ity to meet standard on Good 
Animal Practices for Elephant Facility and the animal welfare p rinciple. The Notification of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Coopera tives on the Establishment o f Thai Agricultural Standard : 
Good Animal Practices for Elephant  Facility has been establishe d under the Agricultural 
Standards Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), dated 24th May B.E. 2564 (2021), followed by public hearing 
from stakeholders in accordance with Section 18 of the Agricult ural Standards Act, B.E. 2551 
(2008).  It is deemed necessary t o establish the Thai Agricultu ral Standard on Good Animal 
Practices for Elephant Facility as a mandatory standard.  TAS 6413-2021  
 
 THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD 
GOOD ANIMAL PRACTICES FOR  
ELEPHANT FACILITY 
1.  SCOPE 
1.1  This Thai Agricultural Standard provides requirements of good animal practices for  
elephant facilities/camps as defined in Section 2. 1. It covers components of elephant camps 
and management of the facilities/camps, personnel, elephant health and welfare, environment, 
safety and record keeping. The aims are to  promote elephants’ good health taking into 
consideration animal welfare and environment while maintaining personnel’s health, safety  
and welfare, and ensuring visitors’ safety.  
1.2 This Thai Agricultural Standard is applied only to elephant facilities/camps that raise or gather 
domesticated elephants of Elephas maximus.     
1.3 This Thai Agricultural Standard does not cover:  
1) Home own raising with no elephant-r elated business in tourism or shows.  
2) Raising for labour purposes, e.g. logging. 
2.  DEFINITION 
For the purpose of this standard:  
2.1  Elephant facility/camp means a place used fo r raising or gathering elephants for business 
purposes, e.g. tourism, shows, or other profita ble uses, whether or not admission or service 
fees are charged, either directly or indirectly.  
  TAS 6413-2021                     2  
 
 3. REQUIREMENTS  
3.1 Components of an elephant facility/camp  
3.1.1 Location 
 Principle 
Site selection is essential for setting up an el ephant facility/camp. Consideration shall be given 
to potential contamination of physical, chemical  and biological hazards from the environment; 
availability of water resources; watershed forests and access to the facility/camp. The purpose 
is to ensure that there will be no adverse effect to elephant health and welfare, no shortage of 
water supply, ability to transport elephants, food, medical supply, tools and equipment  
and that there will not be any environmental impact on watershed forests. 
3.1.1.1 Elephant facility/camp shall be located in an area where the environment  causes no  risk of 
contamination of physical, chemical and biological  hazards which may be harmful to elephant 
health and welfare. Otherwise, the preventive measures shall be in place.   
3.1.1.2 Elephant facility/camp shall be located in an area where  sufficient clean water shall be available 
throughout the year.  
3.1.1.3 Transportation route to the elephant fac ility/camp shall be available for transportation of 
elephants and  delivery of  food, medical supply and equipment. 
3.1.1.4 The area of elephant facility/camp shall not  cause any environmental impact to watershed 
forests. 
3.1.2 Size and  layout  of elephant facility/camp 
 Principle 
 Size and layout of elephant facility/camp are essential for elephant health and welfare, 
environment as well as effective operation in a hygienic manner. 
3.1.2.1 Area of an elephant facility/camp shall matc h with types of activities and number of elephants 
according to Annex A and spatial structure of such elephant facility/camp.  
3.1.2.2 Layout of an elephant facility/camp shall be designed to facilitate hygienic practices.  3.1.2.3 Operation areas shall be laid out separately, e.g. areas for holding, resting, food storage, tools 
and equipment storage and area for garbage and elephant dung disposal. 
   3 TAS 6413-2021  
 
 3.1.3 Elephant holding and resting areas  
 Principle 
 Holding and resting areas for elephants are esse ntial in elephant raising. Size and surrounding 
area shall be taken into consideration to ensure that such areas are suitable for elephants’  good health and welfare.  
3.1.3.1 Holding area shall be in place for elephants before and after services.   
1) In case of housing, sufficient space for rais ing elephants shall be provided, taking into 
consideration animal welfare principles. The st ructure shall be soundly built, covered with roof 
to protect elephants from sun and rain, with good ventilation, easy to clean and maintain.  
The floor shall not be waterlogged.   
2) In case of no-housing, shade and adequate water supply shall be taken into consideration 
when selecting an elephant holding area. 
3.1.3.2 Resting area shall be in place for elephants dur ing off-service periods or nighttime, for example:  
1) Elephants chained in a natural or a plan tation forest, or in an open area using strong 
anchoring point, under the trees, or in a building.  In all cases, a space provided for each elephant 
shall not be less than 16 m
2. The length of ropes or chains shall not be less than 1.5 m.  
2) Elephants roaming freely in an enclosure by ta king into consideration shade, sufficient water 
supply as well as elephants’ safety. 
3.2  Management of elephant facility/camp 
3.2.1 Manual for elephant facility/camp  management 
 Principle 
Manual for management providing details of main operating procedures will enable the personnel 
to properly perform their tasks and enhance the effective management of facility/camp.  
3.2.1.1 Manual for elephant facility/camp management shall be made available  to provide details of 
main operations, for example:  
1) Care and managements for pregnant elephant, elephant after parturition, calf, teenager, adult 
elephant, geriatric elephant and disabled elephant.  
 2)  Calf separation and training  
 3)  Breeding management   
 4)  Management and control of musth and aggressive behaviours  5)  Food and water management TAS 6413-2021                     4  
 
  6)   Cleaning of elephant holding area, resting area and equipment 
 7 ) Elephant health management, such as vaccination, medication, disease diagnosis  
and treatment and management of sick and dead elephants  
   8)   Animal welfare management 
 9)   Environmental management  10) Management of elephant services and shows. 
3.2.2 Food and water management  
 Principle 
Management of food so as to provide good quality and safe food with sufficient amount of food 
as well as water to meet elephant needs will promote elephant health and welfare. 
3.2.2.1 Elephants shall be fed with good quality and sa fe food that suit to elephant requirements.  
Food shall comply with the Animal Feed Quality Control Act, B.E. 2558 (2015).  
3.2.2.2 A separated area for food storage shall be pr ovided. Food shall be properly stored to prevent 
deterioration and contamination. 
3.2.2.3 Each elephant shall be able to get access to sufficient food and water suiting their needs. 
Varieties of food shall also be provided, e.g. forage, fruits and supplements.  
3.2.3 Housing, tools and equipment management  
 Principle 
Elephant houses, tools and equipment are managed to keep clean to reduce the accumulation of 
pathogens. In addition, safe and well-maintained elephant houses and tools and equipment  will enhance efficient operations and safety of both elephants and personnel.  
3.2.3.1 Elephant houses, surrounding areas and tools a nd equipment shall be regularly cleaned to reduce 
accumulation of elephant dung and garbage which are sources of pathogens.  
3.2.3.2 Elephant houses and tools and equipment sha ll be maintained in a good condition and to be 
safe  for elephants and personnel. 
3.2.4 Elephant’s origin management  
 Principle 
 Known origin of elephants is essential to  prevent the fraudulent claims as domesticated 
elephants.  5 TAS 6413-2021  
 
 3.2.4.1 Each domesticated elephant shall have a legal identification such as registration certificate  
(dtua pim ruuphaphan), the stable offspri ng certificate (bai luuk khawk) issued by  
the competent authority stipulated in the Draught Animals Act B.E. 2482 (1939). 
3.3  Personnel  
Principle  
Personnel having knowledge and capability to unde rtake their assignment and in good health 
will be able to effectively carry out their wo rks and provide proper health care and welfare  
for elephants.    
3.3.1  The duty and responsibility of personnel shall be clearly defined taking into consideration 
number of elephants and types of facilities. 
3.3.2 Elephant health care shall be under supervision of a veterinarian.  
3.3.3 Mahouts shall have knowledge, receive trainings or practices in elephant raising and restraint, 
understand elephants’ behaviours, and take re sponsibility of  food and water management  
as well as elephant housing to ensure that elephant raising and management will be done 
properly. 
3.3.4 Other personnel in charge of services, e.g. receptionist, customer service staff and security 
guard, shall have general knowledge on elephants a nd skills in providing services and assistance 
to visitors.  
3.3.5 All personnel in the elephant facility/ camp shall have good hygiene and annual health  
check-up, especially zoonotic diseases.  
3.3.6  An elephant bullhook to ensure mahout’s safety and insurance coverage shall be provided.  
3.4  Elephant health 
3.4.1 Disease prevention and control 
 Principle 
Prevention and control of diseases that are vital for elephant health, personnel and visitors shall 
comply with the Animal Epidemics Act, B.E.  2558 (2015) to ensure effectiveness of disease 
prevention and control in elephant facility/camp. 
3.4.1.1 Inspection of elephant being and health  shall be carried out daily. Abnormalities shall be 
reported to the responsible person or a veterinarian shall be consulted to subsequently take 
immediate corrective action. TAS 6413-2021                     6  
 
 3.4.1.2 Elephant annual health check shall be carried out.  
3.4.1.3 Disease prevention and control programmes sha ll be in place, e.g. vaccination, proper control 
of endoparasites and ectoparasites, under supervision of the veterinarian or a person assigned by the veterinarian. 
3.4.1.4 Disease surveillance and preventive measures of tuberculosis shall be made available. 
3.4.1.5 Pest control measures shall be in place. 
3.4.1.6 New elephants introduced to the facility/camp shall be quarantined. Sick elephants shall be 
separated from the healthy ones. 
3.4.1.7 In the occurrences or suspicion of a diseas e outbreak, actions shall be taken in accordance with 
the Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558 (2015) and recommendations of the Department of 
Livestock Development. 
3.4.1.8 Each elephant shall have an individual bookl et to indicate its life history, identification, 
microchip, musth records, medical treatments and vaccinations as well as breeding and calving 
records.  
3.4.2 Treatment of diseases 
 Principle  
Treatment of diseases shall be under supervision of a certified veterinarian for accuracy of 
disease diagnosis, proper treatments and preventi on of diseases without any negative impact on 
elephants’ health and welfare.    
3.4.2.1 Treatment of diseases shall be under superv ision of a certified veterinarian who performs  
veterinary profession under the Veterinary Profession Act B.E. 2545 (2002). 
3.5  Animal welfare 
Principle  
Management of elephant raising and use of el ephants for services shall comply with animal 
welfare principles that enable them to express their innate behaviours, enhance their well-being 
without any suffering from unpleasant states.  
3.5.1 Elephant care and handling shall meet the prin ciples of five freedoms for animal welfare,  
as follows: 
 1) Freedom from hunger and thirst (Section 3.1.1.2 and Section 3.2.2.3) 
 2) Freedom from discomfort (Section  3.1.1.1, Section 3.1.3.1, Section 3.1.3.2, Section 
3.2.3.1 and Section 3.2.3.2)  7 TAS 6413-2021  
 
  3) Freedom from pain, injury or disease (Section 3.4.1.1, Section 3.4.1.2, Section  3.4.1.3, 
Section 3.4.1.4, Section 3.4.1.5 and Section 3.4.1.6) 
 4)  Freedom from fear and distress (Section 3.3.3) 
 5)  Freedom to express normal behaviour (Secti on 3.1.2.1, Section 3.1.3.1, Section 3.1.3.2  
and Section 3.7.2) 
3.5.2 Elephant care and handling shall comply with the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals 
Act, B.E. 2557 (2014). 
3.6 Environment  
Principle 
Disposal of dead elephants, garbage, waste and effluent from elephant facility/camp can cause 
environmental impact. Therefore, proper waste management shall be practiced.   
3.6.1 Dead elephants, garbage, waste and effl uent shall be disposed of by appropriate methods  
as stipulated by the relevant laws. 
3.6.2 Measures for dung management shall be in place to mitigate environmental impact, e.g.  
allocating a space for dung collection or removal of elephant dung from public water sources.  
3.7 Safety management  
Principle  
Measures to enhance visitors’ safety shall be  in place to promote a good image and reputation 
of elephant tourism. 
3.7.1 Personnel, signs and documents shall be made av ailable to provide instructions on safe approach 
to elephants, feeding, riding and close inter actions with elephants as well as information on 
elephant behaviours. 
3.7.2  Mahouts shall inspect elephant behaviours prior to providing each service to visitors.  3.7.3 Safety management procedures shall be in place, e.g. regularly checking howdah before each 
riding to ensure visitors’ safety or making available appropriate elephant controlling tools. 
3.7.4 Fences or barriers shall be in place between visitors and elephants during shows or feeding.  
3.7.5 Contingency plan shall be made available a nd emergency preparedness shall be practised, e.g. 
providing aids for victims of accidents arisi ng from elephants, controlling of musth or 
enraged elephants. TAS 6413-2021                     8  
 
 3.7.6 Loading and unloading points for elephant riding shall be firmly constructed, durable and 
secured.  
3.8  Record keeping  
Principle 
Data record and keeping are essential for investigating causes of problems or faulty 
management. The data shall also be used to trace the correctness of each operating procedure.  
3.8.1    Important information to be recorded shall be on the followings:  
1) personnel, trainings and practice, and annual health check-up  
2) sources of food and water 
3) the application of chemicals, disinfectants or hazardous substances for livestock  
4) use of veterinary drugs and food supplements  
5) elephant movement documents 
3.8.2  These records shall be kept for a period of at least three years.  
   9 TAS 6413-2021  
 
 Annex A 
(for information) 
Types of elephant facilities/camps  
A.1 Types of elephant facilities/camps can be categorized based on activities, as follows: 
1)     Traditional elephant facility/camp means a f acility/camp that provides services on howdah elephant 
riding, and/or elephant shows.  
2)   Ecotourism elephant facility/camp means a facility/camp that provides services on howdah  
or bareback elephant riding, or walking with ele phants, or giving knowledge on elephants and elephant 
conservation. 
3)    Disabled and geriatric elephant facility/camp means a facility/camp that is dedicated to rehabilitate 
and care of disabled or geriatric elephants.  
4)   Integrated elephant facility/camp means a f acility/camp that provides combined services of 
traditional and ecotourism types of elephant f acility/camp whose adjustable activities depending on 
circumstances.  
A.2 Sizes of elephant facilities/camps can be classi fied by number of elephants in each facility/camp, 
as follows: 
1)   Small-sized elephant facility/camp means a facility/camp that raises not more than 10 elephants. 
2)  Medium-sized elephant facility/camp means a facility/camp that raises 11 to 30 elephants.  
3)   Large-sized elephant facility/camp means a facility/camp that raises not less than 31 elephants.