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German politicians are mulling over increasing ‘meat tax’ from seven to 19 percent.
Members of the Social Democrat party and the Greens want the tax to increase – and the extra income used to improve animal welfare.
‘Constructive proposal’
“I am in favor of abolishing the VAT reduction for meat and earmarking it for more animal welfare,” Friedrich Ostendorf, Agricultural Policy spokesperson for the Greens told The Local.
Ostendorf added that it makes ‘no sense’ that oat milk is taxed at 19 percent while meat is taxed at seven percent.
The Agriculture Spokesperson from the Christian Democrat party, Albert Stegemann, described the proposal as ‘constructive’. He added: “This additional income would have to be used as an animal welfare premium in order to support the livestock farmers in Germany during their restructuring.”
Against
However, not everyone supports the idea, with Bernhard Krüsken, General Secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, coming out against it.
He said: “It is not the tax authorities but farmers who need funds and support for the further development of animal husbandry.”
In addition, the Left Party and Alternative for Germany party also rejected the idea.
