The Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi, said, on Thursday 25 September, that he was open to the introduction of a system of taxation on products high in sugar, fat and salt, in order to contribute to the financing of public health (see EUROPE 13643/8).
Asked by Vlad Voiculescu (Renew Europe, Romanian) in the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee about the idea of taxing ultra-processed foods, the Commissioner replied that this was “something we can think about” as part of the European cardiovascular health plan.
“As Health Commissioner, I think they (these products) are causing a serious risk. It’s not a risk anymore, it’s a damage. The damage is there”, insisted Olivér Várhelyi.
According to recent figures, between 20% and 40% of the population is affected, depending on the Member State. “This means that we will have a whole generation in ten years with a condition. We never had that before. We have to act, and I’m ready to act”, he insisted.
To move forward, Mr Várhelyi highlighted two priorities: to have scientific and technological tools capable of accurately measuring the impact of high-risk products, and to move beyond the sterile debate pitting individual freedom against public health protection. While ruling out any ban or restriction on access, the Commissioner believes that the EU can influence consumer choices through targeted policies. Eleven EU Member States and Catalonia have introduced some form of taxation on these products. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)