France aims to increase the tax on sugary drinks and introduce a tax on added sugars in processed foods

20 October 2023

France is pushing on the fight against sugar with two new amendments to the Social Security financing bill, increasing the so-called “soda tax” and introducing a new tax on added sugars in processed foods, Le Figaro reports.

Notably, the first amendment aims to increase the “soda tax” on sugary beverages originally introduced in 2012 and reformed in 2018. Currently, this tax had limited impact, with 90% of studied beverages showing no reduction in sugar content. As a result, the average daily sugar intake of the French population decreased by less than one gram. In contrast, the United Kingdom’s soda tax, applied at higher excise rates, led to a 40% reduction in beverages containing over 5 grams of sugar per 100 ml and a 30-gram reduction in sugar consumption per household per week. The objective of this tax is not to burden consumers with higher costs but to encourage product reformulation by manufacturers, as advocated by Deputy Cyrille Isaac-Sibille, the author of this amendment.

In a similar vein, a second amendment aims to establish a tax on added sugars in processed foods. High consumption of ultra-processed foods has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cancer. With the consumption of these sugar and salt-rich products on the rise, the newly approved tax seeks to incentivise manufacturers to reduce the quantities of added sugars in their products.

SAFE welcomes these amendments, that establish best practices to reduce the sugar intake of consumers. The organisation has always been at the forefront in raising awareness about sugar consumption and its effects on health.