The alcohol sector in Dubai has warmly welcomed the authorities’ decision to scrap its 30% taxation on sales in a bid to lower prices and boost tourism, despite officials highlighting that this is not yet considered a permanent change.
Carlsberg Malaysia has retained a cautionary outlook for the company’s overall growth citing concerns over inflationary and taxation pressures, despite announcing year-on-year growth of over 200% in net profits in its Q3FY2022.
Japan’s plan to reduce the gap in taxes levied on the three main beer categories in the country is expected to first stimulate rapid new product innovation across the board, then also deliver a boost to the traditional beer segment in the long run, according...
Sugar taxation has remained the most effective for of food taxation when it comes to reducing diet-related diseases as compared to taxes on salt, saturated fat and junk food, according to a recent New Zealand study.
The Philippines’ controversial new tax reform bill aims to help smaller local food and beverage pay lower taxes and stop larger firms from exploring existing system loopholes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak…but experts are warning implementation...
The Philippines is considering implementing higher sugar taxes as well as new taxes on ‘junk food’ high in sodium and trans fat to offset the costs incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak this year.
Legislations and government programmes to combat lifestyle diseases are driving demand for fibre-enriched products, reduced sugar and fat goods, and vegan dairy-alternatives across the Middle East.
China has reduced the tax rates for multiple imported food items in the hope of promoting foreign trade and fulfilling local demand for products that are in short supply.
Thailand has proposed a salt tax by targeting processed foods in hopes of curbing chronic disease, but an industry expert has cast doubt on the effectiveness of this proposal.
The Philippines Senate panel has recommended that a bill to increase taxes on alcohol and other ‘sin’ products under Phase 2 of the controversial TRAIN law be passed, amidst government lauding of the first phase’s success.
Japan will implement a 2% increase in consumption taxes for alcohol starting October 1 this year, creating a potential grey area where it is used an ingredient in food products.
In a move to reduce consumption of unhealthy products and prevent chronic diseases, the UAE Government will impose a fresh 50% excise tax on a raft of products containing added sugar or sweeteners, with officials hoping it will reduce consumption of ‘unhealthy...
The Pakistani government will be doubling the country’s sugar tax to 17% as well as implementing a raft of other levies, as revealed in the country’s recent Federal Budget 2019-20 announcement.
Recently re-elected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the government will not be taking up the Australian Tax Office (ATO) suggestion to extend the application of Goods and Service Tax (GST) to a broader range of food items.
Japanese beer maker Sapporo Breweries is to devote more attention to so-called ‘third category beers’ – those which use malt alternatives such as soy and pea protein - in its home market this year.
The Thai Excise Department is looking at raising the required content of fruits and/or vegetables in juices to a minimum of 20% in order for products to receive an excise tax exemption.
New packaging laws by FSSAI in India, Thailand's trans fat ban, Coca-Cola in China, Jamie Oliver's sugar tax video and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.
Leaders of the Philippines sugar industry are requesting that the government completely suspend the second phase implementation of the controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in view of the country’s high inflation rate.
Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has denied that there is any rice shortage in the country despite senators calling it a ‘full-blown food crisis’ and urging him to declare a state of calamity.
What’s in a letter? A great deal, if Malaysia is anything to go on, as the newly elected Pakatan Harapan (PH) government rolls back the hated GST sales tax system to replace it with an SST — a move which few people really understand, but everyone seems...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union and free-market group the New Zealand Initiative have voiced their opposition to a sugar tax in the country, based on the findings of a government-commissioned report.
The Philippines' Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which includes a new sugar tax, came into effect at the turn of the year, bringing with it a wave of confusion in the Philippines' drink sector.
Vietnamese beverage firms have hit out at proposals for a special consumption tax on sweetened drinks, saying their production would be badly hit by the move.
Prices of energy drinks have doubled in Saudi Arabia this week after a sin tax was introduced last Sunday. Health warnings have also arrived in stores and on cans.
Qatar could see the introduction of “sin taxes” as the government seeks new ways to fund spending over the next three years, according to a ministerial report.
An international group of 50 medical professionals has united to call on Indian lawmakers to sign off on a proposed sin tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
By Katherine Rich, chief executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
In January, the much respected British Medical Journal published a paper which aimed to test the success of the Mexican sugar excise tax, which had been levied on sugar-sweetened drinks.
Zomato is on track to become India’s first e-commerce “unicorn” to become profitable after the delivery startup announced that it had broken even in several key markets including its home country.
Coca-Cola would have “no option” but to consider shutting down some of its Indian factories if the government accepted a recommendation to place a significantly higher GST rate on aerated drinks.
Support for a Philippines tax on sugary soft drinks to boost government coffers and rein in an increase in lifestyle is growing as legislation passes through parliament.
The long-awaited tax reform which will see the introduction of GST will be implemented from April 1, 2016, the official leading the preparations has announced.
Its that time of the year again. Yes, I know that is a cliche home run to begin with, but then one would find it difficult to describe the excitement that builds up every year towards the Indian Union Budget without indulging in one or two cliches.
India’s food and beverage processing industry is hoping for some tax respite from the fiscal budget for 2012-13, but indications are that is unlikely to occur.
Australia’s Premium Wine Brands and Treasury Wine Estates call on the government to reform the current value-based levies and abolish the wine equalisation tax (WET), as the country’s tax summit looms on the horizon.
