Thailand ’s Ministry of Finance plans to impose a 10 percent tax on beverages made from green tea, aiming to collect billions of baht more in its annual tax revenue, according to a local senior official.

Rangsan Siworasat, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Finance, said the ministry planned to revise taxes in the beginning of the 2014 fiscal year with green tea beverages topping the list.

The Thai government allows beverage companies to enjoy a consumption tax exemption with the aim of stimulating the use of agricultural products.

Siworasat said the ministry collaborated with the Thai Food and Drugs Administration to check the quality of ready-to-drink green tea beverages in the local market. The inspection showed that green tea is only a minimal ingredient of the beverages.-VNA