Korn Urges Finance Ministry to Review Cigarette Tax Policy

MGR Online•General•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Korn Jatikavanich urges the Ministry of Finance to reform the cigarette tax structure to combat revenue loss and illegal trade.

•Korn Jatikavanich stated that cigarette tax revenue has decreased by nearly 100 billion baht over the past 10 years.
•The Excise Department is pushing for a single-rate cigarette tax structure to increase collection efficiency.
•The Ministry of Finance has requested additional academic evaluations before deciding on the new tax policy.
•Policy clarity regarding the tax structure is expected within October 2026.

•Korn Jatikavanich argued on September 7, 2026, that current cigarette tax policies failed to reduce the number of smokers as intended.
•Korn Jatikavanich reported a loss of nearly 100 billion baht in cigarette tax revenue over the last 10 years.
•The Excise Department noted that 95% of cigarettes in the market are priced under 72 baht per pack due to the current two-tier tax system.
•The Excise Department is proposing a shift to a single-rate tax system to align with international standards and OECD membership goals.
•The Excise Department has completed public hearings, but the Ministry of Finance requires further academic research.
•Prof. Dr. Prakit Vatigosol and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roengrudee Pathanavanich support the single-rate tax to reduce revenue leaks and youth access to tobacco.
•The Ministry of Finance is expected to provide clarity on the cigarette tax policy direction by October 2026.

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Korn Jatikavanich(กรณ์ จาติกวณิช)

A party-list MP from the Democrat Party who debated the Ministry of Finance budget.

Boonchai Kittitharatrup(บุญชัย กิตติธาราทรัพย์)

An MP from the Bhumjaithai Party who questioned the Excise Department about tax structure standards.

Pornchai Theeravech(พรชัย ฐีระเวช)

The Director-General of the Excise Department.

Prof. Dr. Prakit Vatigosol(ศ.นพ.ประกิต วาทีสาธกกิจ)

A representative of the Non-Smokers' Foundation who supports a single-rate tax.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roengrudee Pathanavanich(รศ.พญ.เริงฤดี ปธานวนิช)

A medical professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The government body responsible for reviewing the cigarette tax policy and conducting academic evaluations.

Excise Department(กรมสรรพสามิต)ℹ️

The department pushing for a single-rate cigarette tax structure to increase revenue efficiency.

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

The political party of MP Korn Jatikavanich.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

The political party of MP Boonchai Kittitharatrup.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(องค์กรความร่วมมือทางเศรษฐกิจและการพัฒนา)ℹ️

The international organization that Thailand is seeking to join.

Non-Smokers' Foundation(มูลนิรณรงค์เพื่อการไม่สูบบุหรี่)

An organization advocating for the acceleration of cigarette tax system adjustments.

Mahidol University(มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล)ℹ️

The academic institution where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roengrudee Pathanavanich teaches.

World Health Organization(องค์การอนามัยโลก)ℹ️

The international health body that recommends the implementation of a single-rate cigarette tax.

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(อนุสัญญาควบคุมยาสูบขององค์การอนามัยโลก (WHO FCTC))ℹ️

The international treaty framework used to evaluate Thailand's tobacco control measures.