A tax on unhealthy processed food, taken into account by the European Commission. Tobacco control legislation is also targeted
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The European Commission is considering proposing a tax for ultra-processed foods with high contents of fat, sugar or salt, according to a draft consulted by dpa on Sunday, according to Agerpres.
The project is to be officially presented in mid-December. Its authors believe the tax will provide incentives for healthier eating habits.
According to the initiative, “an EU-wide micro-tax” can keep prices stable and bring about changes in consumer behavior without causing excessive financial damage, and producers will be more motivated to make healthier products.
The document provides for the use of revenues collected from the tax exclusively for programs to promote a healthy life throughout the EU.
The European Commission also wants to modernize tobacco control legislation
The health plan also provides for the modernization of tobacco control legislation until 2027, as well as the introduction of an EU-wide rating system for processed foods.
The European Commission, through various initiatives, aims to reduce mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases by 20% by 2035.
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in the EU, with more than 1.7 million deaths and an economic cost of €280 billion every year, notes the European Commission.
The commission noted that there is evidence linking high consumption of ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and metabolic diseases.
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