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The Ministry of Health has asked the IRS to raise taxes on soft drinks and other beverages. The Treasury still badyzes, but has already given a favorable opinion in a previous similar request. The World Health Organization recommends that drinks be 20% more expensive to discourage consumption, badociated with diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular and dental problems – that is, if a can costs $ 4,
Coca-Cola, the largest manufacturer in the country, opposes any tax increase and defends other measures to reduce obesity. For Abir (Brazilian Association of Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industries), which represents the big producers, "the tax does not produce health products". Afrebras (Association of Soft Drink Manufacturers of Brazil) is in favor of an increase in taxes, provided that the increase is the same for all, including for those who do not benefit from regional tax incentives.
The request was made under the previous direction, when the minister was Ricardo. The current occupant of the post, Luiz Mandetta, told UOL that the government would not interfere in the ongoing process. [196459004]
A note from the report shows that Ministry of Health technicians want to load all sweetened beverages or sweeteners, such as soft drinks, teas, juices and nectars. They advocate an increase [of in the Beverage Tax from 1.3% to at least 27% ; a minimum price for products, just like cigarettes; the end of tax incentives for factories in the Manaus Free Trade Area;
In 2017, the Ministry of Finance gave the green light to a similar request by the National Board of Health: the Treasury agreed to bring the tax on industry to 10% and
" Soda is perhaps more emblematic, "said the minister
The problem of obesity has many ingredients, said Minister Mandetta to the [of] the problems of how much sugar our population consume in a large number of foods, maybe the whole of or before the time, but I have not entered it yet."
Luiz Mandetta, Minister of Health
[19659005] Mandetta says that the intention of the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, is not to create taxes in general but that there could be increases over the years. nsées with reductions, for example. "I ask him what are the alternatives to increase the resources in health care.They have principles, one of them is not to increase the overall tax burden of the country. know what tax line the government will badume.If it does so within the limits of a balance sheet, it decreases here and increases at this point.But we have not reached this specific stage of the soda. "[19659005] I have to look at the total. What should I do with sweets, sweets and sugars, chocolates, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, tobacco, cigars? Just say: I mean that [porque] is bad, so I have to try a wide range of products that, in theory, conspire for health problems .
Luiz Mandetta, Minister of Health
In a note, the Department of Health reiterated that "any proposed tax increase will be badyzed and validated by the federal government economic team. Health, in the current administration, has not engaged in any tax increase negotiations. "
Obesity has increased by 60% over the last decade, says the ministry
. Technical Note 60/2017 of September 15, 2017. The taxation of soft drinks and other sugary drinks to combat obesity in Brazil ", believes that the increase in taxes is the best measure to reduce the # 39, incidence of chronic diseases. " Cost-effectiveness studies indicate that the taxation of soft drinks and other sugary drinks compared, "said Michele Lessa de Oliveira, coordinator of food and nutrition at the Ministry of Health, and João Salame Neto, former director of Basic Care, and badyst Rubens Bias Pinto
Today, more than half of the population is overweight and obesity has increased by 60%, which undermines academic performance, according to the OECD Economic Cooperation and Development.) Chronic diseases led the Brazilian government to spend 16.2 billion rubles in 2011, accounting for 58% of total expenditure of SUS. 19659005] Sugar beverages are one of the main causes.Today, 19% of the population consume soda or artificial juice at least five times a week.
Daily consumption from a can of 355 ml of sweet drink s would already suffice for an increase of about 83% in the risk of diabetes mellitus 2 compared to people consuming occasionally (less than one serving per month) of these drinks.
The WHO has already recommended to increase the price of drinks to reduce consumption.
Mexico, five US states, the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Portugal and the Spanish region of Catalonia have already taken this step. Mexico created a special tax of one Mexican peso per liter of sugar sugar in 2013. Consumer prices rose by 10% and consumption decreased by 7.6% between 2013 and 2017.
Although the price does not rise so much, the mere fact that the consumer knows that this product is overtaxed because of health damage will reduce purchases, according to the lawyer. Idec (Institute of Consumer Protection), Igor Britto
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Coca-Cola says it offers sugar-free alternatives
The director of sustainability of Coca-Cola in Brazil Andrea Mota, rejects the idea of a" sugar-free alternative ". taxes increase to fight against obesity The company has developed a set of 213 types of drinks, some without sugar and others less sweet. "The same person who is at Sunday bbq with beer and soda takes Monday's water and a salad, "he said to UOL . "One day he has one foot in the jackfruit, the other he has a vegan foot. Over the past three years, the company has re-evaluated the revenues of 27 products. According to Andrea
the sugar was reduced in 17 products in 2017. For her, combating obesity is a complex problem that can not be solved by taxation, but through a series of changes, such as the evolution of product revenues. One is to sell beverages in smaller bottles, such as 200 milliliters to control portion sizes – one of the most important steps in a 2014 McKinsey study. Institute. Another option is to remove the most harmful health products from school canteens.
The sugar reduction agreement, signed last year between the Ministry of Health and the food industry, could be an alternative, but leaving a good deal. most consumed products in the country. However, Idec argued that the pact was useless as it set timid goals and companies were already meeting their goals.
In Coca-Cola and other factories, several products "gradually" lose the sweet taste, so the consumer does not notice it. . Fernando Bairros, of Afrebras, said that the movement had started two years ago, when the WHO had recommended the addition of sugary drinks. ", says Bairros." But we have reduced sugar over the years so that the consumer does not notice such a difference in taste. "
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