- PKS refuses to increase VAT on food and drink.
- Foods in Slovakia face a high tax burden.
- Increasing VAT would endanger jobs in the food industry.
- Higher VAT can reduce consumption and increase cross -border purchases.
The Food Chamber of Slovakia (PKS) refuses to increase value added tax (VAT) to food and drinks in connection with other consolidation measures. Foods are already facing serious problems in the form of a high tax burden on food and food production, including a transaction tax. This leads to a reduction in consumption, a transfer to cheaper alternatives and increasing cross -border purchases. Jana Venhartová, director of PKS, pointed out on Monday.
“As part of the consolidation of public finances, information on the possible transfer of certain food categories to the 23 % VAT rate is penetrated to the public. PKS rejects any increase in food and drink prices in the form of taxes,” Venhartová said.
According to her, the burden of food higher VAT also threatens jobs Not only in processing, but also agricultural primary production, especially specialized plant production.
“Politicians publicly declare the need to build food safety, which means ensuring a sufficient number of affordable foods available. Therefore, it is unimaginable that they should also come to the public with measures that will have an impact on the most vulnerable groups of residents, but also food and farmers themselves,” added.
