To be honest, I’m sad that I was right about this,” Nielsen told EURACTIV. | COPENHAGEN . EURACTIV MEDIA NETWORK BV. Predictably enough, it was the poor who were clobbered hardest. Whether the fat tax did work according to its intention, to improve public health, remains to be seen. Higher taxes inevitably led to inflation and raised the cost of living. Before its introduction the tax was debated worldwide, as Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce a tax on saturated fat. Denmark has decided to abolish its fat tax after barely a year, citing too many negative side effects hitting businesses. AP. | Denmark has brought in a "fat tax", Hungary a "junk food tax" and France a tax on all sweetened drinks. For politicians, however, Denmark’s fat tax fiasco is a valuable reminder of how economically inefficient, regressive and unpopular such policies are. By continuing to browse the website, you are agreeing to our. Help us to continue providing free, independent news from the capitals of Europe. Only four years ago, 60% of the households said in the same survey that they “never” traded at the German border. Please consider making a recurring contribution to EURACTIV Media Network for Europe. The World Health Organisation released a report last month calling for governments around the world to introduce a tax on sugary drinks, and referred in glowing terms to Denmark's fat tax. In 2012, the Danish government has so far introduced higher taxes on beer, wine, chocolate, candy, sodas, ice cream, coffee, tea, cigarettes and light bulbs. The poll showed that 60% of Danish households had bought beer or soft drinks in Germany within the past year. The Danish "fat tax" was presented as part of a tax reform package in 2009.1 Following a number of amendments, it was finally adopted in March 2011 and took effect on October 1 of the same year. With other countries following, is it something we should be considering in the UK? On 1 October 2011, Denmark got a 'fat tax' in order to battle unhealthy lifestyles. In March 2003, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce laws to severely restrict consumption of trans fats. Denmark has introduced what is believed to be the world's first fat tax - a surcharge on foods that are high in saturated fat. However, Nielsen stated that the fall in butter consumption had nothing to do with the fat tax. Between November 2011 and August 2012, consumers preferred buying meat with 6-8% fat instead of meat with 8-12% fat. The Danish tax places a surcharge on foods that contain more that 2.3% saturated fat, including products such as butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat and processed food. They buy olive oil and fry on a dry pan,” Nielsen stressed. Measures to reduce obesity must be based on solid science, not the shady marketing that tends to formulate policy in the U.S. When it came to the fat tax, retailers complained that Danes simply went to … Please consider making a recurring, EU presidency trio assesses European defence policy progress, Finnish nurse extracts 7 doses from Pfizer vial, Finnish nurse extracts seven doses from Pfizer vial, 2021's 'Doomsday Clock' stuck at 100 seconds until the end of the world, Hungarian doctors can’t recommend Russian, Chinese jabs, Commission takes evasive action over Germany's vaccine side deal, AstraZeneca obligation to supply EU with UK-made vaccines exposed, Bulgarian corruption leads to US-Russia clash, How the vaccine export control blunder exposed von der Leyen's 'flawed' centralism, US and Russia spar over Bulgarian corruption, Denmark scraps its infamous fat tax after only one year. Nielsen said that because of the fat tax, DSK members who imported food products from other countries had spent many hours trying to explain foreign food producers how the Danish fat tax worked. The controversial tax, designed to improve the health of Danes by discouraging consumption of fatty foods, was opposed by farmers and food companies and was unpopular among consumers. For example, eating unhealthy foods contributes to the problem of obesity. So there’s nothing new in those figures,” DSK’s vice president said. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. “These taxes created big administrative costs. The world’s first fat tax will soon also be the first to be abolished. Danish Grocers’ Trade Organisation (DSK). This is not what we need in this economic situation,” Danish Minister for Taxation Holger Nielsen said in a statement, adding that the government had listened to the “concerns” that had been raised. The government also considered introducing a sugar tax from the beginning of 2013 that was going to add an extra 1.3 billion crowns (€175 million) to the state budget. In Denmark, there are excise duties on chocolate, candy, ice cream and soft drinks - commonly referred to as a “sugar tax” – intended to curb obesity.The excise levy is not to be confused with the Danish “fat tax” placed on foods high in saturated fats that was introduced in 2011 but scrapped last year.. According to statistics from FDB, Denmark’s largest consumer goods retailer, Danes had started changing their eating habits because of the tax. The previous right-wing government introduced the fat tax to limit the population’s intake of fatty foods. “We have witnessed the same trend with milk where people now drink skimmed milk instead of whole milk. So … He added that Denmark had lost many jobs in the retail sector due to the fat tax, but it would be too difficult to estimate exactly how many, and the country is unlikely to get them all back. And we thank you for your support. It hit all food items with a saturated fat content exceeding 2.3%. Danes are worried that the tax has increased food bills (which was the point of the tax) and that it could be threatening the food industry. “The change in behaviour which has happened among the consumers will unfortunately probably continue in the long run even when the Danish groceries adjust to the new lower prices,” DSK’s vice president said. It is interesting that there is no mention in this article about personal freedom. Mr Cameron suggests that introducing a similar measure could be one way of tackling rising health costs and falling life expectancy among some groups of people. criticised for hitting the weakest groups within the society. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Efficacité et Transparence des Acteurs Européens 1999-2018. It would be similar in principle to a cigarette or alcohol tax. However, many administrative jobs were also created as a result of the fat tax, Nielsen joked. Fat Tax In Denmark - YouTube Denmark is the first country to introduce a 'fat tax' on foods with high saturated fat content. Research has also shown that during the first three months after the tax was introduced, the sale of butter, oil and margarine fell 10-20% in Denmark. The fats in milk do not contribute to weight gain and actually protect against these diseases. Linnet Juul's organization is pressuring lawmakers to simplify the tax, but said he is unsure what will happen when the new, centre-left government takes office. “The politicians have finally realised that our and other people’s predictions have come true. The report said the levy “proved to be efficient in reducing the intake of saturated fat as well as in improving other dietary measures and reducing mortality” from non-communicable diseases. This week Denmark added an additional tax on foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fats, which includes butter, meat, milk, cheese, oil and processed foods. The only fats linked to weight gain are the refined oils used for cooking and made into margarine. Pros of a Fat Tax. By the time the fat tax was repealed 15 months later, it … It’s all about economic costs to producers, as if consumer preferences were unimportant. It’s a trend that has been going on for years. KiMs (2012). About KiMs. Instead, the Danish government is to launch a new tax and competition plan. Denmark’s so called fat tax on foods high in saturated fats has been repealed by the Danish parliament only one year after being introduced. Overall, FDB’s retail businesses sold six tonnes less of fat during those months. We are seeing record-breaking interest in our journalism as our pageviews have doubled in the last year. At the same time, readers support in the form of recurring monthly financial contributions provides continuous support for our work enabling us to innovate.Â. October 6, 2011 August 21, 2016 Zoë 22 Comments Butter, Denmark, dietary fat, eat real food, essential fats, fat tax, Obesity, olive oil, public health dietary advice, saturated fat, unsaturated fat. (updated: In Denmark, a new tax on saturated fat in food products was introduced, with effect from October 2011, as a supplement to existing taxation on sugar, chocolate, candy, ice-cream and soft drinks. The introduction of a ‘fat tax’ in Denmark has been widely reported this week and will apply to foods that contain saturated fat. The Danish law put a surcharge on foods containing more than 2.3 percent fat. The fat tax in Denmark distinguishes itself from the taxes mentioned above by targeting a nutrient instead of specific groups of food and as such this is the first tax of its kind in the world. 21-02-2016 Denmark Fat Tax . The Danish government has said it intends to abolish a tax on foods which are high in saturated fats. In October 2011, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce a fat tax on meat, dairy products and cooking oil. Your recurring monthly financial contributions help us innovate for the future. | Read our full mailing list consent terms here, "Higher fees on sugar, fat and tobacco is an important step on the way toward a higher average life expectancy in Denmark," health minister Jakob Axel Nielsen said when he introduced the idea in 2009, because "saturated fats can cause cardiovascular disease and cancer.". 2011 also saw a re-introduction of a tax on sweets (including soft drinks and ice cream) in Finland and at the beginning of 2012, France introduced a tax on drinks with added sugar or sweetener. Denmark has become the first country in the world to impose a "fat tax" on unhealthy foods. Now more than ever we need unbiased, expert information on how and why the European Union functions. Consumption of fatty foods have external costs on society. It has been widely criticised for hitting the weakest groups within the society. The results failed to match the predictions of the health lobby’s computer models and the failed experiment has since been largely swept under the carpet in public health circles. Do you value EURACTIV’s reporting? The Danish government rescinds its unwieldy fat tax. A tax of 16 crowns (€2.14) per kilo was applied to meat, dairy products and cooking oil which consist of more than 2.3% saturated fat to combat unhealthy lifestyles. The aim is to reduce people's intake of fatty foods. Earlier this month, Denmark's government imposed a new tax on foods with a high saturated fat content. IMACE, the European Margarine Association, is open to partnership with public health organisations, civil society representatives, government, and industry to launch collaborative public health policies that have better chances of reaching out to everyone.". Terms and Conditions Web. Butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food will all be subject to the levy. The tax is based on wrong information about fats. “The past many years, there has been a small decline in the butter sale every year because we have healthier lifestyles now than previously. Obesity and the Fat Tax Issue (2011). The Danish fat tax was unusual in being explicitly revenue-neutral from the outset. At the same time, readers support in the form of, recurring monthly financial contributions, provides continuous support for our work enabling us to innovate.Â, help us innovate for the future. In September, Hungary introduced a new tax popularly known as the "Hamburger Law," but that only involves higher taxes on soft drinks, pastries, salty snacks and food flavorings. The fat tax is a tax paid per kilogram of saturated fat in the following foods if the content of saturated fat exceeds 2.3 g/100 g. These include meat, dairy products and animal fats that are rendered or are extracted in other ways, edible oils and fats, margarine and spreadable blended spreads. Denmark has since announced that it will abolish its hated fizzy drinks tax and is cutting beer duty for the same reason it dropped the fat tax – to ‘promote growth and employment’. Denmark scraps fat tax in another Big Food victory (2012). In shops, the fat tax has had a big psychological effect on consumers. In October 2011, Denmark introduced a fat tax on butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food if the item contains more than 2.3% saturated fat. But consumers have begun hoarding provisions ahead of the price rise and some scientists have suggested that it would be better to target people's salt or sugar intake. We are seeing record-breaking interest in our journalism as our pageviews have doubled in the last year. The move will place a surcharge on foods high in saturated fat. Linnet Juul says the tax mechanism is very complex, involving tax rates on the percentage of fat used in making a product rather than the percentage that is in the end-product. Other nations such as Hungary and Britain have also discussed introducing fat taxes as part of a solution to obesity problems. “That was a burden without comparison and a huge problem,” Nielsen said. We know our readers value our reporting, and the outpouring of support we have received since the beginning of the crisis shows that our readers are willing to step up for the journalism that they trust and value. Social cost. The fat tax created administrative burdens, a dramatic rise in border trade and uncertainty among consumers about what food products should cost. This report on Organizational Change Project “Fat Tax” in Denmark was written and submitted by your fellow student. Denmark is scrapping its tax on foods that are high in saturated fat after it emerged people were travelling across the border to Germany in search of unhealthy snacks for less. Nielsen said he is pessimistic when it comes to the border trade in Germany, adding that it would probably continue at a high level as a new “rhythm” has been created. The fat tax - of 16 crowns (€2.14) per kilo - was applied to meat, dairy products and cooking oil which consist of more than 2.3% saturated fat. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Denmark’s food taxes A fat chance. People don’t buy margarine anymore. We need your support.Dear reader. According to DSK, the Danes’ border trade in Germany concerning daily food products has increased dramatically and effectively more than can be justified by the raised taxes. This tax should have been opposed strictly on the grounds of personal freedom. Three months ago, a survey by DSK showed that the Danes’ border trade in Germany had sky-rocketed. Privacy Policy This information should not be behind a paywall, and we remain committed to providing our content for free. … We are more confident than ever in our role bridging media, policy, and the public. ), Comments Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp. The outgoing conservative Danish government planned the fat tax as part of a goal to increase the average life expectancy of Danes, currently below the OECD average at 79 years, by three years over the next 10 years. It implemented an across-the-board tax on all foods with a saturated fat content above 2.3 percent, with the hopes of reducing consumption of unhealthy foods. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. The centre-left government now plans to abolish the tax in January 2013. 1 2 Peru has announced plans to tax junk food, and other countries, notably Ireland, are also considering such taxes. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. In October 2011, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce a fat tax on meat, dairy products and cooking oil. But the food taxes are low, 0.34 kroner on a litre of soft drinks, for example. 14-11-2012 It usually affects citizens with lower income as food taxes increase prices and impacts the competitiveness of national enterprises, putting jobs at risk. The tax was approved by large majority in a parliament in March as a move to help increase the average life expectancy of Danes. Europe Nov 17th 2012 edition. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Denmark imposes 'fat tax' on food to curb obesity. The vice president of the Danish Grocers’ Trade Organisation (DSK) Claus Bøgelund Nielsen said his members had experienced both a decline in revenues in their shops and a lot of unnecessary administrative work. A fat tax would make people pay the social cost of unhealthy food. Denmark’s fat tax remains the leading example of an ambitious anti-obesity policy being tested in the real world. The tax required an immense bureaucracy to implement and it placed a heavy administrative burden not only on food companies in Denmark but in countries where food was exported to Denmark. "The margarine sector believes that a systematic approach based on nutrition education and promotion of physical activity is needed to change consumer behaviour and reach balanced diets. The Danish National Health and Medicines Authority says 13% of the Danes are obese. Web. We know our readers value our reporting, and the outpouring of support we have received since the beginning of the crisis shows that our readers are willing to step up for the journalism that they trust and value. International Margarine Association of the Countries of Europe said in a statement: "Introducing taxes on certain nutrients or foods has never been recognised by international organisations, such as the WHO, the OECD and the European Commission, as a panacea for public health. The Nordic country introduced the tax Saturday, of 16 kroner (£1.85) per kilogram of saturated fat in a product. The Nordic country introduced the tax Saturday, of 16 kroner (£1.85) per kilogram of saturated fat in a product. These oils are also independently linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. “With the new plan, we will keep jobs in Denmark, reduce border trade and the companies’ administrative costs. In the past year Denmark has introduced a “fat tax,” Hungary a “junk food tax,” and France a tax on sweetened drinks. Denmark has taxed saturated fats since October 2011, and the experiment has been a failure. Both are gaining popularity and when done in combination will lead to serious weight loss. The “fat” tax is 16 kroner per kilogram of saturated fat. This is good,” said Margrethe Vestager, minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior. The tax was approved by large majority in a parliament in March as a … For example, they would try to explain a lasagna maker in Italy that the tax only applied to saturated fat and only special types of saturated fat, and then leave it up to the lasagna producer to figure out how much of the lasagna would be hit by the fat tax. A Public Health Food Tax on packaged products with high sugar, saturated fat or salt levels was introduced in September 2011 in Hungary and a tax on saturated fats was introduced in October 2011 in Denmark. Web. Your financial support helps build the future of our network of newsrooms across Europe. A proposed sugar tax that was meant to be introduced in 2013 has also been scrapped. “The rise in the price on single units was actually limited, but the fact that we all talked about the new tax … that created a notion among consumers that if they went abroad, it would probably be a good idea to bring home some of the daily food products,” Nielsen said. Contact us. I completely agree with Mr.Barron.The tax did not discuss anything about personal freedoms when the tax was established.We have the same problem of obesity in the US but it is not due to high fat intake alone,but mainly due to the high intake of carbs,ie.refined sugars in soda and desert foods.This was going to be addressed in the 2013 tax on sugar-based foods.What was really needed was a national tax deduction for people joining health clubs and weight loss enterprises that promoted optimal weight thru healthy eating.However,when looking at the cost of feeding a family it protein that is costly and carbs and fats that are relatively cheap.Therefore shifting people’s food buying even as early as children’s purchasing of foods in school.Laying the foundation to the way people go to the grocery store in later life.Denmark needs a multifaceted approach at dealing with obesity and repealing the the fat tax was not necessarily the answer. It’s better to launch awareness programs on fat loss techniques which include the introduction of blue fat freeze kit and HIIT exercise techniques. In 2011 Denmark introduced a tax on saturated fat in food products, the first country in the world to do so. It was carefully calibrated to bring in just enough money to make up for a … Peru intends to add levies to junk food and Ireland may also introduce such taxes… Nov 17th 2012. The objective of the present paper is to investigate the effects of the tax on consumers' intake of saturated fat within three different types of food product group: minced beef, regular cream and sour cream. 21-02-2016 ), Comments Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp alcohol tax tax remains the example... The politicians have finally realised that our and other countries following, is it something we should be considering the. And submitted by your fellow student instead of whole milk this tax have... 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