Fat tax

The fat tax is a levy in some countries tax on certain fats in foods.

Denmark

The fat tax in Denmark since 1 October 2011. After one year, the Danish government declared its intention to abolish the tax again.

Legislative process

The control is the world's first of its kind, it was decided by the Folketing, the Danish Parliament by a large majority on 17 March 2011. All parties except the Liberal Alliance voted for the bill; the deputies of the Enhedslisten abstained.

Content and debate

Fall per kilogram of saturated fat 16 Danish kroner (approx. EUR 2.15 ) in fat tax to. Affected are foods with a saturated fatty acid content of about 2.3 percent. Also on goods that are imported into Denmark, the tax is levied. The tax for products that are exported to foreign countries is accounted Denmark. Some foods such as whole milk or fish are exempt from the tax. For butter, whipped cream or poultry, the tax must be paid, however. The provisions regulating the "Law on the taxation of saturated fats in certain foods " ( Lov om afgift af mættet fedt i visse Fødevarer ).

The imposition of the tax causes half a pound of butter or half a liter of whipping cream 30 to 35 cents, or nearly 20 percent more expensive. The aim of the tax is, according to its proponents, especially a change in behavior in the population. You should induce the Danes to a healthier diet. In addition, the control ensures According to calculations by the Tax Minister Troels Lund Poulsen for additional government revenue of 1.5 billion kroner ( 200 million euros ) annually.

The adoption of the law was preceded by a passionate debate in Denmark. The Danish food industry feared that many consumers will buy in the future goods of inferior quality or from abroad. This would threaten jobs in Denmark. The largest Danish producer of dairy products, Arla Foods, calculated a decline in sales of 125 million crowns. The Danish industry association complained in connection with the grease control an increase in bureaucracy, as not only the fat in the food must be determined, but also the fat used in the preparation, such as cooking oil. Nutrition experts criticized that now foods are more expensive, their consumption is recommended despite a high fat content, such as nuts or olive oil. The Association of Margarine producers described the exemptions for eg whole milk as "arbitrary" and showed the Danish state in the EU Commission to the infringement of the competition law and the obstacle to the free movement of goods.

Effects and abolition

The control led to an increase in consumer prices, to high administrative costs of the producers and to jeopardize employment in Denmark. An increase of shopping tourism led to an outflow of purchasing power. Many Danes buy at the weekend in the German shopping centers near the Danish border, such as the Scandinavian Park in Handewitt or the border market to crown Harrislee their food a. This cross-border traders who specialize by Danish -speaking staff and other measures to the affluent Danish border tourists. Tax Minister Holger Nielsen stated in November 2012 that the Danish government would abolish the fat tax again for these reasons. The Danish center-left minority government expects the support of the unit list in the Parliament on this abolition.

Mexico

In November 2013, the Mexican government supported a nationwide fat tax.