About-face in the National Assembly. After rejecting a reform of the “soda tax”, deputies finally approved modifications to this system aimed at limiting the quantity of sugars in this type of drink.
This amendment by the socialist Jérôme Guedj, sub-amended by the general rapporteur Yannick Neuder (LR), plans to reform the tax on sodas by creating three tax brackets, instead of sixteen, drawing inspiration from the British model. The British tax “made it possible to reduce the proportion of drinks above the first threshold (5g/mL) by 40% and the total reduction in sugar intake would be estimated at 30 grams per household per week, i.e. an effect four times higher than the French tax”, develops the explanatory statement of the amendment.
Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq (MoDem) supported the amendment as did her predecessor Frédéric Valletoux (Horizons). Former Minister of Consumer Affairs and EPR MP Olivia Grégoire was opposed to it, highlighting a possible pass-on of the tax on the price paid by the consumer.
Division in the government camp
In the morning, a first vote rejected the amendment, but the Social Affairs Committee requested a second deliberation. It was approved by 142 votes to 100. The rebels who had abstained on Monday morning voted for Mr. Guedj's amendment, adding their voices to those of the rest of the left, MoDem and Horizons. The LR and Ensemble pour la République (EPR, ex-Renaissance) deputies were divided.
The deputies also adopted an amendment from the ecologist Sabrina Sebaihi, aiming to introduce a tax on added sugars in processed food products, against the advice of the government. The Assembly also approved the obligation for food manufacturers to mention the nutriscore of their products in their advertising. Those who do not comply with this constraint would have to pay a “contribution” to Social Security, equal to 5% of their advertising budget.
AOP, IGP or red label not concerned
As an exception, products benefiting from an AOP, IGP, red label or other “mountain products” designation will not be affected by this obligation, in order to avoid a negative display from which most cheeses, in particular, would suffer.
These votes, however, have no definitive character, the text is only just beginning its parliamentary journey, and due to the probable use by the government of article 49.3 which will allow it to retain in the final text the amendments of its choice .
