16/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Association of Commercial Television (ACT) has said that the reduced VAT level currently applied to television programmes must be maintained in the draft directive amending the rules of directive 2006/112/EC on value added tax (VAT). Ross Biggam, head of ACT, said that member states had made intelligent use of the reduced VAT rates for televisual services. “The retention of the reduced rate is important for operators to develop in a very competitive marketplace and for consumers to participate in the information society at a time of increasing concerns about their purchasing power,” he added. ACT took part in the consultation exercise organised by the European Commission. The Commission is considering the usefulness of updating the list of exemptions and reviewing the list of products currently exempt from VAT. (I.L.)