He calculated the impact of the sugar tax on prices: the money raised could go back to consumers

“We use very cheap and very unhealthy products,” says N. Mačiulis in the “Delfi diena” program.

“Many EU countries apply this tax. Sometimes it taxes sugar directly, which makes it more expensive and encourages food producers to use it less. Now sugar is the cheapest raw material and therefore much is added. to yogurts as well as bread … More than necessary. As a result, consumers are clearly suffering. It is excise taxes on sugar and sweeteners that states are trying to combat overconsumption and use in the process of production ”, explains the executive director of Swedbank.

At the time, Irma Pilipienė, director of the Lithuanian Food Industry Association, says she agrees with what was agreed a few years ago during the discussion on such a tax.

“It is not the tax that should encourage people to eat healthier, but universal education from school, kindergarten and a responsible industrial approach and the possibility for a person to choose healthier products”, thinks I. Pilipienė.

According to her, the food industry has already signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health (SAM) for the production of higher quality products.

“In 2016, we chose a path with SAM that the industry, showing its responsible attitude, signed agreements, the companies promised to change the composition of the products, reduce not only the sugar, but also the salt and fat content in the products . This is happening, more and more companies adhere to these agreements ”, explains the director of the Lithuanian Food Industry association.

She points out that 100 million. Euros to the budget per year, of which N. Mačiulis speaks, would be collected from consumers.

“It should be understood that the 100 million. from consumers’ pockets, and this will mainly affect the most disadvantaged consumers, who are the ones who spend the most on food. [pajamų] part, ”he says on Delfi Day.

According to N. Mačiulis, if 1 kilogram of sugar were subject to an excise tax of 1 euro, a 400 gram loaf of bread would be more expensive by about 2 euro cents, and in reality about 100 million could be raised in the budget per year . However, N. Mačiulis points out that this is not the main function of this tax.

“It just came to our knowledge then. An alternative could be a preferential 5 percent. VAT on fruits, vegetables, groats, cereals, nuts.” These are healthy products that are also consumed by low-income people, “he said.

‘This levy may be intended to apply only to goods with a sugar content exceeding, for example, 10 grams per kilogram. Then only yogurts that are made entirely from sugar would become more expensive. There are many products of this kind on the market: sugar is cheaper than yogurt, “said N. Mačiulis on the” Delfi diena “program.