The government wants to promote healthy food, while raising a tax on it. With the amendment of the tax rules, the VAT rate changes, among others, to vegetable beverages, which are a healthy alternative to cow's milk.
The Ministry of Finance declares that the main reason for the introduction of new VAT rates is to promote healthy, full-value products. According to the new VAT matrix per year 2019 an increase in the tax rate on beverages from 5 to 23%, including vegetable drinks.
This change strongly affects a large group of people who are allergic to cow's milk protein and to lactose intolerant, as well as to other people who for different other dietary reasons cannot consume cow's milk. The change will also affect vegans and vegetarians.
According to the new VAT matrix per year 2019 an increase in the tax rate on beverages from 5 to 23%, including for vegetable drinks
It is estimated that in Polish society there is about 25% people who suffer from lactose intolerance, and according to reports in our country is 8% vegetarians and 7% vegan, these numbers are constantly increasing.
Vegetable drinks produced on the basis of almonds, nuts, rice, soya or oats are a healthy alternative of cow's milk to the mentioned social groups. Name – drink, for plant products is misleading and probably because of this, these products have been qualified for one categories with sweetened juices.
In accordance with Union rules, the name of the milk is reserved for products of animal origin. Plant alternative manufacturers use the name ‘drink’ as it must be diluted in the case of vegetable beverage, as the raw product would be too dense to be able to drink, which at the same time does not reduce its nutritional value.
Vegetable beverages are a source of calcium, protein, iron, magnesium or vitamin B[12], and thus are an important element of a properly balanced diet.
When it comes to nutritional value, soy drink is the most popular and at the same time the closest alternative to cow's milk, which is one from the main sources of allergens, especially in young children.
Furthermore, according to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, dairy products are incomparably more harmful to the atmosphere than soya. The problem of deforestation, for which up to 70% corresponds to the breeding of animals, including 19% I credit myself to dairy production itself.
In the context of the change in the rate of tax on vegetable beverages, the position of the government which under the Constitution of the Republic of Poland is obliged to care for the environment is incomprehensible. By introducing new VAT rates on vegetable drinks, the government discriminates against people who suffer from allergies to cow's milk protein, people who are lactose intolerant and those who try to limit their negative environmental impact by their consumer decisions.
Author:
Paweł Boś
Author of numerous articles on legal and tax matters, published in the industry press. Related to Russell Bedford Poland 2018. Law student at Leon Kozmiński Academy in Warsaw and graduate of Management at Świętokrzyska University of Technology