Thailand Advances Salt Tax Proposal to Curb Excessive Sodium Consumption
Government moves forward with tiered levy on high-salt foods to promote healthier diets and reduce disease burden
Thailand is progressing plans to introduce a tax on high-sodium foods, advancing a public health initiative aimed at reducing the nation’s elevated salt consumption and its associated health risks.
The proposal, being developed by the Excise Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and industry stakeholders, envisions a tiered tax system that would impose higher levies on food products with greater sodium content, mirroring the structure of the country’s existing sugar tax which took full effect in April 2025. The sodium levy is intended to influence both consumer choices and product formulations as Thai adults currently consume roughly 3,600 milligrams of sodium per day — nearly double the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum of 2,000 milligrams — contributing to a range of non-communicable diseases including hypertension, heart disease and chronic kidney conditions.
Health experts have highlighted the urgency of addressing these trends as part of broader efforts to improve national health outcomes and reduce long-term medical costs.
Under the draft plan, snack foods and other ready-to-eat high-salt items are likely to be among the first products subject to the levy, with more categories to follow after initial implementation.
The Excise Department has signalled that the tax will be designed to give manufacturers time to adapt, offering transition periods and consultations to refine sodium thresholds and ensure the policy is calibrated to market conditions.
Authorities are engaging closely with food and beverage producers, regulators and public health advocates to balance industry considerations with the imperative to shift dietary habits.
Supporters of the measure argue that fiscal instruments can more effectively prompt changes in production and consumption than education alone, and point to international examples where similar taxes have encouraged reformulation and healthier options.
The salt tax proposal is part of a broader public health strategy that aligns with Thailand’s efforts to tackle lifestyle-related diseases and build on the earlier sugar tax’s impact in reducing sugar consumption and expanding healthier product choices.
If enacted, the levy could reshape the food industry landscape by incentivising lower-sodium offerings and reinforcing national campaigns for improved nutrition and disease prevention across the population.
The proposal, being developed by the Excise Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and industry stakeholders, envisions a tiered tax system that would impose higher levies on food products with greater sodium content, mirroring the structure of the country’s existing sugar tax which took full effect in April 2025. The sodium levy is intended to influence both consumer choices and product formulations as Thai adults currently consume roughly 3,600 milligrams of sodium per day — nearly double the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum of 2,000 milligrams — contributing to a range of non-communicable diseases including hypertension, heart disease and chronic kidney conditions.
Health experts have highlighted the urgency of addressing these trends as part of broader efforts to improve national health outcomes and reduce long-term medical costs.
Under the draft plan, snack foods and other ready-to-eat high-salt items are likely to be among the first products subject to the levy, with more categories to follow after initial implementation.
The Excise Department has signalled that the tax will be designed to give manufacturers time to adapt, offering transition periods and consultations to refine sodium thresholds and ensure the policy is calibrated to market conditions.
Authorities are engaging closely with food and beverage producers, regulators and public health advocates to balance industry considerations with the imperative to shift dietary habits.
Supporters of the measure argue that fiscal instruments can more effectively prompt changes in production and consumption than education alone, and point to international examples where similar taxes have encouraged reformulation and healthier options.
The salt tax proposal is part of a broader public health strategy that aligns with Thailand’s efforts to tackle lifestyle-related diseases and build on the earlier sugar tax’s impact in reducing sugar consumption and expanding healthier product choices.
If enacted, the levy could reshape the food industry landscape by incentivising lower-sodium offerings and reinforcing national campaigns for improved nutrition and disease prevention across the population.
