14 Apr 2016 Industry, Treasury set for sugar tax conflab next week

In his budget speech in February, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan proposed the tax on sugary drinks to be implemented in April next year, but did not say how much the levy would be.

The Beverage Association of South Africa (BevSA), whose members include Coca Cola Co, Pepsi Inc and SABMiller, has previously said the tax was “discriminatory” and was bound to fail, according to a statement on their website.

“We are meeting Treasury next week Thursday 21 and only after this meeting will we know the details of the proposed tax,” the executive director of BevSA Mapule Ncanywa said.

South Africa is one of many countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks to battle obesity and increase revenue.

Britain last month said it will introduce a sugar levy on soft drinks in two years‘ time to tackle a growing obesity crisis, delighting health campaigners and angering drink makers.

Source: Reuters