Bangkok street-food laws

City officials in Bangkok, Thailand, announced in mid-April that street-food vendors would be banned from major city streets by 2018, saying that the city’s more than 20,000 food vendors take up too much sidewalk space, cause vehicle traffic issues and are responsible for large amounts of trash. 

After a public outcry from both locals and tourism organizations, officials clarified that vendors will be allowed to stay as long as they conform to new laws. These laws will require mandatory training for vendors plus more stringent sanitation practices, focusing on dish cleaning and waste management. In addition, all food stalls must be “uniform” and conform to the “local identity.”