France’s fish wholesalers association has demanded that the country’s government withdraws a “suicidal” tax on fish.
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The Union du Mareyage Français (UMF) has warned of “disastrous consequences” to the sector if the tax, which was passed by the French parliament late last week, is not shelved.
The levy, which has been introduced to help French fishermen struggling with high fuel costs, applies to fish sold to wholesalers and purchasing groups.
The French government estimates the tax will generate revenues of EUR70-80m (US$103-117m) next year and it plans to plough the cash back into the fishing industry.
However, UMF president Philippe Violleau said the tax risked provoking “uncontrollable inflation” in fish prices paid by consumers, a “massive influx” in imports and “a weakening in the fish sector in France as a whole”.
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By GlobalDataViolleau said measures were need to help alleviate rising fuel costs but insisted French fishermen were not looking for such a tax.
However, the fishermen’s union said it was “satisfied” by the introduction of the tax.
