Proposals outlining a tax on sugared drinks endorsed by WHO

Some European countries have already implemented plans to deter consumers from products high in saturated fat as well as sugar. 

Finland has had excise duties put in place on sweets, chocolate and non-alcoholic beverages since 2011, which increased in 2012 and 2014.

Current excise tax rates are €0.95 per kilogram for sweets and ice cream. For non-alcoholic beverages the tax is €0.11 per litre.

In a similar vein France adopted a levy on beverages that contained added sugar or other sweeteners in 2011. Rates were set at €7.16 per hectolitre, increasing to €7.5 per hectolitre in 2015.

Hungary introduced a public health product tax (PHPT) in 2011 taxing non-staple food products that contained high sugars, salt or caffeine levels.

Countries, such as the UK and Northern Ireland have also announced intentions to implement taxes on sugary drinks.

The report is the culmination of outcomes presented in mid-2015 meeting of food experts convened by WHO

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Food Labelling Services comments:

The addition of a levy tax should not affect product labelling. However, the mandatory nutrition declaration that has to be declared on all products (unless they have an exemption) from 13th December 2016 will allow consumers to identify products that are high in sugars, and swap to a lower sugar alternative.