'Consumption tax on meat not feasible'

The introduction of a national consumption tax on meat and meat products is hardly feasible, at least not in the short term. This is the opinion of researchers from the consultancy and accountancy firm EY in their publication 'The (im)possibilities of a consumption tax on meat'.

The time frame in which such a tax could be introduced is strongly determined by the ICT systems of the Tax and Customs Administration as the implementing organization, says EY. Introducing a tax without the tax authority's systems being prepared for it will have a direct and indirect effect on its enforceability and feasibility, as well as its resistance to fraud.

EY: "The fact that our conclusions imply that a consumption tax on meat (products) in the Netherlands is not feasible in the short term does not mean that no further research can be conducted into alternatives that might remove the bottlenecks we have identified."

For more information, see the publication 'The (im)possibilities of a consumption tax on meat' (Dutch only)