March
2017
On 27 February 2017, the Office of Insurance Commission (“OIC”) announced a Notification entitled Criteria and Methods of Issuing Insurance Policy, Offering Insurance Products, and Indemnity Payment or Compensation Payment through Electronic Channels (“Notification”). The Notification was published in the Royal Gazette, which will take effect on 26 August 2017. It clearly sets out the criteria for insurance companies, licensed brokers or licensed banks to register with the OIC and obtain approval for insurance-related online activities.
Insurtech, which is a combination of ‘insurance’ and ‘technology’, refers to technology innovations in the insurance industry. As technological advancement is inevitable, the Notification seeks to ensure that strict criteria are adhered to in order to protect the public.
8 key points about the Notification
Insurance Regulatory Sandbox (“Project”)
The OIC is in the process of finalizing the terms and conditions for insurance companies and Fintech companies to participate in the Project which will be supervised by the OIC. The purpose of the Project is to allow insurance companies and Fintech companies to test their financial products or services in a live but limited environment, without being fully subject to all requirements that are normally applicable. The Project is expected to be announced later this year. This Project will give the OIC an overall view from the perspective of the business operator to provide more suitable and acceptable guidelines for online insurance regulations in the near future.
What this means for the insurtech industry
In light of this development, insurance companies, licensed brokers, and licensed banks offering online insurance services should prepare and improve their information system to ensure compliance with the requirements and approval set out in the Notification. Any violation of this Notification shall be subject to a fine of not more than THB 500,000 and an additional THB 20,000 per day until the rectification of such violation.
For more information, please contact the Threenuch Bunruangthaworn, Nattapon Suraratrangsi or the ZICO Law Partner you usually deal with.
This alert is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.