WE ARE COMMITTED TO RAISE BEVERAGE TAX FROM 10% TO 20%
Beverage Tax lift is a fight against the escalating public health issues connected with excessive sugar consumption, the Federal Ministry of Health has stated its intention to raise the levy on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from 10% to 20%.
This important step is to encourage healthy beverage options, reduce consumption of processed sugars and soft drinks, and contribute to a healthier future for residents and future generations.
According to our source, the rise in global health difficulties associated with high sugar intake, such as childhood obesity, diabetes, and dental problems, has motivated countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and many more to join the worldwide effort.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested lifting the global beverage tax (SSB tax) by 20%.
The Ministry thinks that increasing the monetary burden on sugar-sweetened goods would dissuade customers from purchasing them and instead encourage healthier beverage options.
Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director/Head, Public Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, said this at the Pro-Health Tax Policy Campaign on SSB, held on Tuesday in Abuja at the Federal Ministries of Finance and Health, respectively.
“Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages have been successfully implemented in countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and many others to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.”
“The implementation and maintenance of the tax in Nigeria will also reduce excess consumption of SSBS, lowering the burden of NCDs.”
NCDs are a significant burden. We are committed to meeting the global best practice of at least 20% of the final retail price on all SSBS, which the present 10 naira per liter price falls short of. This initiative “aligns with other government efforts to improve Nigerian public health in order to meet the global priority of significantly reducing NCDs,” she said.
According to Edozie Chukwuma, a spokesman of the National Action and Sugar Reduction Coalition, NASR, the campaign intends to educate the general public, policymakers, and concerned government officials about the hazards of SSB use.
He emphasized the need for the current administration to raise the SSB tax in order to prevent patronage of these products. Thedailycourierng news for more