In addition to the government’s tax on sugar-laden soft drinks, the Health Minister is preparing a fiscal assault on junk food.
Portugal restaurateurs association, AHRESP, has called for an urgent meeting with Minister Adalberto Campos Fernandes, whose proposal to tax food with high levels of saturated fat and salt may affect their members’ profitability.
The minister’s health measures to date have included the introduction of a vegetarian option in schools and restrictions on high calorie snacks in vending machines at NHS hospitals, but he wants to do more to fight increasing levels of obesity, especially in children.
"We will certainly be more aggressive in 2018," promised Fernandes who said he is working with the Ministries of Finance and of Industry to introduce new measures for drinks and foods that are filled with sugar and fats.
"I believe we have the right conditions so that the in the next State Budget we can take an innovative step," he said, while assuring the industry that the "objective is to protect public health, while being fiscally reasonable” and to introduce a system that is "more conducive to healthier consumer behaviour."
Campos Fernandes was pleased with the results of this year's introduction of the sugary drinks tax, which since February has led to an astonishing 72% drop in consumption (this figure we are presuming is for sales only in schools.Ed)
The money raised from the tax is going into the NHS and the minister said that the important thing is the medium-term effect on people's health, which "will likely be visible within half a dozen years."
"The tax has changed the attitude of industry and has sensitised people. The effects on consumption are far more important from the point of view of preventing obesity and diabetes than the tax income,” said the minister.
Comments
The big chains with their standardized offerings are easily checked, but local restaurants who change their menus all the time will be impossible.
That will be discriminatory, and lead to legal challenges.
And really, a 72% reduction in sugary drink consumption since February? That would be good, but I find it immensely unlikely. Some numbers are being massaged here methinks.