According to Thai media reports, Thailand is considering the introduction of a “Thai Durian Fund Act” to support the sustainable development of durian cultivation by collecting taxes and fees from exporters, mimicking the model of rubber.

According to the report, the idea of setting up a durian fund has been around for a long time. Thailand's durian exports exceed rice and rubber, ranking first among Thailand's export crops. But Thailand does not have any fund to help durian farmers, and the fund was initially set up to help growers cope with problems that may arise in the future.

The durian export tax will be levied at 25 satsang/kg (100 satsang = 1 baht), which translates to about 0.051 yuan/kg. based on Thailand's annual export of 1.5 million tons of durians, the total annual tax would be about 375 million baht, or about 77 million yuan.

The Thai Durian Fund will set up a committee and the tax money received will be used for the following four main purposes:

1. not more than 25% of the amount will be used for research and development work for durians to be handed over to any organization that conducts research and development, such as research institutes or research institutes;

2. not more than 25% of the money will be used as the cost of controlling and maintaining the quality of durian products and to promote the exportation and processing of durians in Thailand;

3. not more than 25% of the money will be used to provide assistance to farmers and exporters affected by natural disasters or uncontrollable events;

4. not more than 25% of the funds for administrative costs.

The “Thai Durian Fund Act” has 25 articles and if any person evades the tax in any way, he shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding ten times the amount due but not less than 5,000 baht, or both. If any person obstructs the work of the staff of the Fund or the persons assigned by the Committee, he/she shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht, or both.