Excise Dept contemplates taxes on salty food
BANGKOK, 9th November 2018, (NNT) - According to the Director-General of the Excise Department, the agency is studying the possibility of levying taxes on food that contains a concentration of salt or fat, saying that the new regulation would prioritize the health of consumers.
Director-General of the Excise Department Patchara Anuntasilpa explained today that products containing high levels of salt and fat affect the health of consumers, saying that collecting taxes on these products would contribute to the effort to promote better health among Thais. He assured the public that his agency would ensure that the measure is clearly understood and wouldn't have a negative effect on the majority of consumers.
He further clarified that taxes being levied by the Excise Department are grouped into three categories, sin taxes, energy taxes, and environmental taxes. The Director-General speculated that the tax on salty and fatty products will likely be in the environmental tax group, given their harmful nature on public health.
Patchara admitted that food producers and manufacturers need time to make changes to their products before a new tax is implemented. He suggested that initially those who can make the adjustments would be entitled to a tax deduction and the rest would pay the tax at a set rate. Later on, a penalty would be applied to those who choose to retain the level of salt and fat in their products. He speculated that the approach would not affect consumers.
The Excise Department's Director-General also touched on the tobacco tax, following reports that manufacturers have increased the amount of tobacco in cigarettes. He said that the department is reviewing whether or not it would increase the tax on the new cigarettes while assuring the public that officials would consider the social context before making a decision. He also pointed out that it is normal practice in the international community to charge higher taxes on goods that pose health risks to the public.
National News Bureau Of Thailand | Excise Dept contemplates taxes on salty food
