The proposal came from a special commission of the Ministry of Health, which deals with reducing the burden on the compulsory health insurance system.
According to the Health Ministry’s project, the tax from 2028 could bring up to 450 million euros, Euronews reported citing Der Spiegel.
Urgent need for health insurance reform
In 2027, Germany’s health insurance funds will face a deficit of 15 billion euros. In 2030, a deficit of more than 40 billion euros is expected unless action is taken.
Apetition for a sugar tax initiated by Foodwatch gathered more than 40,000 signatures in one week, including 3,000 signatures from doctors.
The German Diabetes Association (DDG) also spoke in favor.
“This is good news for the fight against non-communicable diseases and for health insurance funds, which are under pressure,” says Barbara Bitzer, managing director of the DDG. – By introducing a sugar tax, Germany is catching up with the rest of Europe and also setting clear rules for the industry. As in the UK, the tax should be phased in so that it creates a real incentive to reduce sugar consumption.”
What are the benefits of a sugar tax?
In the UK, the introduction of the sugar tax in 2018 has had a significant impact on consumption of sweetened drinks. According to the study, sugar consumption through drinks fell by three grams a day in children and five grams in adults.
As a result, UK manufacturers reduced sugar content by 35%, according to analysis by the UK Health Protection Agency. Similar measures are also in place in France and Mexico.
Experts from the Technical University of Munich and Oxford pointed not only to the direct revenue from the sugar tax, but also to the reduction in nutrition-related medical costs. They estimated that this would save the state up to 16 billion euros.
