EU micro-tax proposed to tackle cardiovascular disease mortality
The European Commission is drawing up plans to introduce a new "micro-tax" on ultra-processed foods that contain high levels of fat, sugar, or salt, according to a draft document seen by dpa on Sunday.
The proposal, which is scheduled for official presentation in mid-December, suggests the levy is intended to incentivize healthier diets and influence consumer choices across the bloc.
The document's authors propose that an "EU-wide micro-tax" could stabilize prices while promoting behavioural change without imposing excessive financial damage on consumers.
The revenue generated by the tax would be ring-fenced and used exclusively for public health promotion programmes across the European Union. Furthermore, the measure is designed to motivate food producers to reformulate their products to be healthier.
The Commission highlighted the urgent public health challenge posed by non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are currently the EU’s primary cause of death, accounting for over 1.7 million fatalities annually. The estimated economic cost associated with these diseases reaches 280 billion euros each year.
The move comes as evidence continues to link the high consumption of ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, reports Agerpres, citing dpa.
The proposed tax forms part of a broader health strategy that also includes modernizing tobacco control legislation by 2027 and establishing an EU-wide nutritional rating system for processed foods.
Through these combined initiatives, the European Commission aims to reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases by 20% by 2035.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
