‘Sugar Tax’ adopted without amendment

Despite concerns about obstacles to the passage of the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Amendment Bill – which includes a provision for the health promotion levy or sugar tax – through the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) select committee on finance, the bill has been adopted without amendment.

The bill which has already been adopted by National Assembly includes the health promotion levy, previously known as the tax on sugary beverages and is due to come into effect in April 2018. It provides for a levy of 2.1c/g of sugar in excess of 4g/100ml.

Heala co-ordinator Tracey Marawana, said in a recent media release: “Heala virtually had to force its way onto the committee’s agenda to argue the case for the tax, which is SA’s first national policy measure to tackle the obesity epidemic that is costing this country dearly in lives lost, massive healthcare costs and lost productivity.”

Priceless SA, union federation Cosatu, Tiger Brands and the Beverage Association of SA were among those that made submissions during the public hearings.

Read the full story here: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2017-12-01-sugar-tax-is-adopted-by-treasury-without-amendment/