The price of bottled water could increase significantly next year. The Senate voted on the night of Wednesday to Thursday to increase VAT on mineral water, a measure intended to encourage consumers to favor tap water against a backdrop of scandal over the practices of water manufacturers. mineral.
The amendment voted by the Senate, carried by Macronist senator Nadège Havet, proposes to eliminate the reduced VAT rate on water in plastic bottles, currently set at 5.5% and which would therefore increase to 20%. While preserving bottled water sold overseas from this measure.
Up to 300 million euros in tax revenue
Senators estimated that the measure could bring in between 150 and 300 million euros per year. The upper house voted by a show of hands for this measure in the draft budget for 2025, against the advice of the government.
“In a context where the question of the management of natural resources, corporate responsibility and ecological issues are really at the heart of the debates, it has become necessary to rethink this tax policy,” launched the socialist Hervé Gillé, assuming to defend this measure “in view of the concerns raised by the Nestlé Waters scandal”.
Nestlé used banned disinfection systems
The subsidiary of the Swiss agri-food giant admitted in January to having used prohibited disinfection systems to maintain the “food safety” of its mineral waters.
Revelations, relayed by the press, which shined the spotlight on the practices of industrialists in the sector, notably leading the Senate to launch a commission of inquiry on the subject at the beginning of autumn. A “flash” mission, carried out last April by the Senate, also concluded that “Nestlé defrauded and deceived consumers”, but also that “all the ministers knew and allowed it to happen”.
