The Minister of Health, Geneviève Darrieussecq, who had defended a tax on processed sugars despite the opposition of her colleague in Agriculture, contented herself on Tuesday with mentioning measures on soft drinks, leaving for the rest the task of “convincing” the agri-food sectors. industry. “Modifying taxes on soft drinks, for example making them simpler and more restrictive also for manufacturers, I support this proposal,” Darrieussecq declared before the National Assembly.
Dissension within the government over the amendments
The minister adopted a more decisive position at the weekend by publicly supporting “taxes on processed sugars”, after deputies from different sides modified the annual Social Security financing project in this direction. But these amendments caused dissension within the government. If the Budget Ministry sees them favorably, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard opposed the idea of putting “balls and screws on the feet” of French industrialists.
In this context, the position expressed on Tuesday by Geneviève Darrieussecq only seems to be partial support for the deputies’ initiative. The increase in the tax on soft drinks is the subject of a modification that, therefore, appears to be supported by the Minister of Health. Furthermore, your comments seem to oppose another amendment that provides for a “contribution applied to processed food products intended for human consumption that contain added sugars.” Geneviève Darrieussecq also estimated that progress “can only be achieved with the support of the Minister of Agriculture”, promising to bring together “all industrialists” in the company of her colleague.
Source: BFM TV
