Bangkok, March 3 -- Food manufacturers in Thailand will be given a one-year adjustment period to reformulate their products to reduce salt content if a sodium tax is introduced, according to the head of the Excise Department.

Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the department, said the proposal for a sodium tax is being considered by the agency.

Relevant stakeholders were invited to jointly design the tax measure to ensure the policy is carefully developed.

The proposed sodium tax aims to regulate salt levels in popular snack products that currently exceed recommended standards. The measure is intended to address unhealthy dietary habits among Thais, who consume an average of 3.6 grammes of sodium per day - more than twice the leve...