Text file: 2030.txt
author: "Roman Margu\u010D"
downvotes: 5
end consideration date: 2011-09-23
id: '2030'
number comments: 22
number views: 6336
proposal type: Competent authority response
response: 'Response from the Ministry of Health

  In the area of increasing or decreasing food affordability, either through subsidies
  or tax cuts or increases, countries combine the two approaches in different ways,
  as only a comprehensive approach is truly effective.

  Subsidies for healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables, can increase consumption
  of fruit and vegetables at the expense of other foods that maintain their price
  - these can include meat, fish, milk and dairy products. Therefore, the long-term
  health effects are less clear and predictable, as the subsidy may have the effect
  of changing the composition of all food groups in a full day''s meal, and the final
  effect may not necessarily be beneficial for health.

  Taxes or excise duties tend to be more targeted, targeting one component of a food,
  e.g. sugars or fatty acids. Studies show that such measures are more closely linked
  to the desired nutritional and health outcomes. Both subsidy and tax measures also
  depend on consumer response.

  Subsidisation of health-promoting foods is already taking place to some extent in
  Slovenia and is mainly linked to the school environment. The School Nutrition Act
  introduces a subsidy for snacks, which must be prepared in accordance with the Guidelines
  for Healthy Eating in Educational Institutions issued by the Ministry of Health.
  There is also free distribution of fruit and vegetables to primary school pupils,
  which also serves to raise awareness of the importance of sufficient consumption
  of vegetables and fruit.

  The impression that the introduction of excise duties is only about filling the
  budget is not justified. In public health, we are primarily concerned with the rise
  in non-communicable diseases. The measures are primarily aimed at creating the conditions
  for people to actually consume as little sugary drinks as possible. Data from the
  Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia for 2009 show that, on average, almost
  36 litres of such beverages are consumed annually, which is more than the annual
  per capita consumption of bread. Consumption of sufficient fluids is necessary to
  meet the physiological needs of the body, but health experts warn that drinking
  water is the best option. Consuming sugary drinks instead of water contributes over
  200 kcal of energy to the energy balance of the diet, which accumulates in fat and
  contributes to obesity if insufficient physical activity is practised, and such
  drinks are an intense intake of sugar into the body, which is absorbed instantly
  and disturbs the homeostasis (balance) of the body, causing a feeling of hunger.
  There is growing evidence linking sugary drinks consumption to tooth decay, obesity,
  metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The rise in both obesity and type 2 diabetes is
  particularly sharp and therefore worrying in the group of children and adolescents
  who consume such beverages in large quantities. Unfortunately, both obesity and
  diabetes are becoming a growing public health problem in Slovenia.

  The Expert Working Group on the proposal will consider a comprehensive approach
  to the use of fiscal instruments for food products and will also take into account
  other measures that lead to the objective of creating healthier eating and exercise
  habits in the population and thus normalising body weight. All the measures being
  prepared by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will be designed responsibly,
  on an optimal professional basis and taking into account the successful experiences
  of other countries.'
response date: 2011-10-13
response due date: null
sent date: 2011-08-25
title: tax on unhealthy diets
upvotes: 7
url: https://predlagam.vladi.si/predlog/2030
