French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot has ruled out varying the rate of value added tax (VAT) on foods based on their nutritional quality.
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The proposal was one of 80 measures contained in a parliamentary report on obesity, which was submitted to the government on Tuesday (September 30).
It recommended a rise in VAT from 5.5% to 19.6% for high fat, sugar and salt foods.
Speaking on French TV channel Canal +, Bachelot said: “It’s an interesting approach but we are going through a difficult period economically and by taxing a certain number of products you would only end up taxing the less well off.”
Commenting on the recommendation that fruit and vegetable VAT be reduced from 5.5% to 2.2%, she said: “It could be an idea but not one I’m considering at the moment.”
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By GlobalDataBachelot will present measures to tackle obesity in a government health bill to be debated in parliament before the end of the year.
