2023-10-31 04:07:24
https://sputniknews.lat/20231031/impuestos-a-bebidas-azucaradas-en-colombia-como-funcionan-y-que-efecto-tendran-1145262076.html
Taxes on sugary drinks in Colombia: how do they work and what effect will they have?
Taxes on sugary drinks in Colombia: how do they work and what effect will they have?
Drinks with more than six grams of sugar per 100 milliliters and ultra-processed foods will increase in price in Colombia as a result of a “tax… 10.31.2023, Sputnik Mundo
2023-10-31T02:07+0000
2023-10-31T02:07+0000
2023-10-31T02:07+0000
Latin America
colombia
???? health
Gustavo Petro
drinks
sugar
???? markets and finances
obesity
diabetes
world health organization (who)
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A favorable ruling by the Constitutional Court of Colombia will allow a new tax on sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods to come into effect in the South American country starting November 1. Both taxes had been introduced by the tax reform promoted by the Government of Gustavo Petro, but were postponed for almost a year because they were challenged. Although the measure reached Congress as a Government initiative, the need to apply taxes on food and drinks considered unhealthy was a banner of several social organizations, united behind the conviction that making these types of products more expensive will lead consumers to more nutritious options.Hoyos explained that the regulations in force as of November 1 will be applied “gradually.” ” on sodas and energy drinks, including those that come in powder form. The expert recalled that the rate applied to each drink will be measured based on the number of grams of sugar they contain per 100 milliliters. Thus, since November, drinks that have between six and 10 grams of sugar will pay an extra 18 Colombian pesos (0.0044 dollars) and those that have more than 10 grams will pay an additional 35 pesos (0.0086 dollars). Hoyos even highlighted that The amounts finally provided for in the tax were “a little low” with respect to guidelines drawn up by the World Health Organization (WHO), which “has recommended much higher taxes.” Indeed, in official documents, the multinational organization has defended the convenience of taxes that increase the prices of sugary drinks even up to 20%. The regulations also introduce a tax on “industrially ultra-processed edible products and/or with high sugar content.” added, sodium or saturated fats. In this case, the amount of the tax is calculated based on the amount of sugar, fat or sodium based on the calories it provides. The lawyer emphasized the importance of also taxing this item, represented particularly by “packaged cookies”, given that “they are usually sold as if they were healthy and in reality they are making you sick.”Hoyos also dismissed what he considers “fallacious arguments” put forward by the food industry during the tax debate in Colombia, with the intention of warning about the possible damages that the regulation would have for the Colombian industry and the most vulnerable families. Along these lines, the WHO assures that taxes on sugary drinks are effective in reducing diseases caused by their consumption, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes or dental cavities. Hoyos He assured that the tax especially defends vulnerable families instead of harming them, because “the marketing is especially aimed at them” and they are the ones who have to face the highest costs for the treatment of diseases caused by the consumption of these foods. But, Despite the progress, Hoyos recognized that “these measures do not work alone,” so the Colombian State should apply other initiatives to support the tax on unhealthy foods and beverages. In this sense, he highlighted the relevance of front labeling and the dissemination of healthy information in schools, in addition to demanding regulation of the advertising of these types of products to limit the “very aggressive marketing” that they exert on consumers.Hoyos emphasized in which the tax was possible thanks to the push of social organizations that faced business lobbying, since “the industry does not like to be regulated and puts up a lot of obstacles. They have to understand that economic interests cannot be above human rights,” he asserted.
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Colombia, ???? health, Gustavo Petro, drinks, sugar, ???? markets and finances, obesity, diabetes, world health organization (who), ???? food
Colombia, ???? health, Gustavo Petro, drinks, sugar, ???? markets and finances, obesity, diabetes, world health organization (who), ???? food
Sergio Pintado
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Drinks with more than six grams of sugar per 100 milliliters and ultra-processed foods will increase in price in Colombia as a result of a “healthy tax.” In dialogue with Sputnik, activist Yessika Hoyos explained that the measure should encourage consumers to prefer more water and fruits.
A favorable ruling by the Constitutional Court of Colombia will allow a new tax on sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods to come into effect in the South American country starting November 1. Both taxes had been introduced by the tax reform promoted by the Government of Gustavo Petro, but were postponed for almost a year because they were challenged.
Although the measure reached Congress as a Government initiative, the need to apply taxes to foods and beverages considered unhealthy was a banner of several social organizations, united behind the conviction that making these types of products more expensive will lead consumers to more nutritious options.
“We hope that, as these products are more expensive, people will opt for water or healthier products, such as fruit,” Yessika Hoyos, a lawyer specialized in human rights and spokesperson for the Dulce Veneno campaign, promoted by the group of lawyers José Alvear Restrepo.
Hoyos explained that the regulations in force as of November 1 will be applied “gradually” on soft drinks and energy drinksincluding those that come in powder.
The expert recalled that the rate applied to each drink will be measured based on the number of grams of sugar they contain per 100 milliliters. Thus, since November, drinks that have between six and 10 grams of sugar will pay an extra 18 Colombian pesos (0.0044 dollars) and those that have more than 10 grams will pay an additional 35 pesos (0.0086 dollars).
The tax will also increase over time: the range between six and 10 grams of sugar will pay 28 pesos (0.0068 dollars) from 2024 and 38 pesos (0.0093 dollars) from 2025; and those greater than 10 grams will be taxed with 55 pesos (0.013 dollars) from 2024 and 65 from 2025.
Hoyos even highlighted that the amounts finally provided for in the tax were “a little low” with respect to guidelines drawn up by the World Health Organization (WHO), which “has recommended much higher taxes.” Indeed, in official documents, the multinational organization has defended the convenience of taxes that increase prices of sugary drinks even up to 20%.
The regulations also introduce a tax on “products ultra-processed foods industrially and/or with a high content of added sugars, sodium or saturated fats”. In this case, the amount of the tax is calculated based on the amount of sugar, fat or sodium depending on the calories it provides.
Mexico is against trans fats in food: what are they and why are they so harmful? The lawyer emphasized the importance of also taxing this item, represented particularly by “packaged cookies”, given that “they are usually sold as if they were healthy and They’re really making you sick.”
Hoyos also dismissed what he considers “false arguments” put forward by the food industry during the tax debate in Colombia, with the intention of warning about the possible harm that the regulations would have for the Colombian industry and the most vulnerable families.
“It was said that these products are part of the basic family basket, but these products should not be considered necessary for adequate nutrition. On the contrary, they are not food and they are making us sick,” said the specialist.
Along these lines, the WHO assures that taxes on sugary drinks are effective in reducing diseases caused by their consumption, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes or dental cavities.
Hoyos assured that the tax especially defends vulnerable families instead of harming them, because “the marketing is especially aimed at them” and they are the ones who have to face the highest costs for the treatment of diseases caused by the consumption of these foods.
Why did Paraguay approve food labeling with a magnifying glass and not with octagons?
But, despite the progress, Hoyos recognized that “these measures do not work alone,” so the Colombian State should apply other initiatives to support the tax on unhealthy foods and beverages.
In that sense, he highlighted the relevance of front labeling and the dissemination of healthy information in schools, in addition to demanding regulation of the advertising of these types of products to limit the “very aggressive marketing“that they exert on consumers.
“Every day consumers are seeing that a lot of products are supposed to make you strong and have vitamins, but they do not inform you that they end up affecting people’s health,” summarized the activist, emphasizing that Latin America suffers “a pandemic of non-communicable diseases” derived from unhealthy diet.
Hoyos emphasized that the tax was possible thanks to the push of social organizations that faced business lobbying, since “the industry does not like to be regulated and puts up a lot of obstacles. They have to understand that economic interests They cannot be above human rights,” he asserted.
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