The Portuguese government wants to tax salty foods

The Portuguese government wants to tax high-salt foods such as chips and crackers starting next year, according to a preliminary draft of the State Budget for 2018.

INTERNATIONAL -- According to a preliminary version of the State Budget proposal for 2018 (OE2018), to which the Lusa had access on Friday, the Portuguese Government wants to introduce a new tax on food that will depend on the levels of salt it contains.

Also read, Salty food causes half of stroke, heart disease and diabetes deaths in the U.S.

Crackers, cereals and chips will be covered by this tax "when they have a salt content of 1 gram or more per 100 grams of product" or 10 grams per kilo.

A tax of €0.80 ($0.94) will be levied on each kilo of these foods according to the State Budget proposal, and any crackers, chips or cereals with less than one gram of salt per 100 grams will be exempt from this payment.

This new tax is added to the Consumer Excise Code (IEC) and revenues from it will be "allocated to the health promotion and disease prevention programs managed by the Directorate-General for Health."

In January the government introduced a new tax on soft and sugary drinks and is expected to raise €80 million ($94m) in State revenues from the “sugar tax” this year.

The price of a soft drink with up to 80 grams of sugar per litre rose by €0.15 ($0.17) and drinks with more than 80 grams of sugar per litre now cost an additional €0.30 ($0.35). The price rises include VAT (value added tax).

SOURCE The Portugal News,  Lusa