Discussion in Germany on raising VAT on meat to protect "the environment and animal welfare"
- The Green MEP, Friedrich Ostendorff, has proposed that the meat tax should rise from 7% to 19%. The debate has taken place, both in favour and against. In this sense, they have criticized that economic measures "deepen social and gender inequalities".
"I am in favour of no longer cutting the Value Added Tax (VAT) on meat for animal welfare measures," said Green MEP and Agriculture spokesman Friedrich Ostendorff. Meat is currently recognised as a staple in Germany and is therefore subject to reduced VAT. Should the cut be suspended, the tax would rise from 7% to 19%, according to the study.
Ostendorff's article has sparked a great controversy. Among the political parties, some leaders of the Greens, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have shown their agreement on a personal level. Others have been against it. The leader of the Greens, Robert Habec, has chosen to withdraw the proposal. The CDU Government, led by Angela Merkel, has stated that, although it agrees with the objective, other avenues are more effective.
The proposal has shortly been linked not only to the improvement of animal welfare but also to the care of the environment. Environmentalism has long been denouncing that meat production is harmful to the environment. A UN expert group has recently stated that reducing meat consumption, along with other measures, is essential to curb climate change. Most animal rights associations, such as ecologists, vegetarians and vegans, have welcomed the decision.
Money as a limit
A number of people and associations have criticised the increase in prices in order to reduce consumption. The left-wing party Die Linke pointed out, for example, that the rise in taxes would mainly affect “marginalised societies”: those who have more money could consume more meat, so they could pollute more.
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