Nature organisations want tax on meat and dairy

Nature and environmental organisations want the government to take the lead in stimulating a healthy and sustainable diet, with measures such as: restrictions on advertising for meat and dairy products, stimulating vegetable protein consumption, a sustainable, more vegetable-based purchasing policy by government institutions, the implementation of 0% VAT on vegetables, fruit and nuts and the introduction of a fair price for meat and dairy products, which will enable farmers to earn a good income with fewer cattle and less negative impact on nature and the environment. This is what Kirsten Schuijt (CEO of the WWF) wrote in a letter to minister Staghouwer on 25 July 2022.

The TAPP Coalition is pleased with this letter because never before have so many nature and environmental organisations spoken out clearly about an environmental levy on meat and dairy, with the proceeds going to farmers. TAPP already has an idea on how this levy could be created. TAPP's plan differentiates the levy for chicken, pork and beef, based on environmental costs per kg of meat. Converted, this means 20 eurocent per ounce of chicken, 45 eurocent per ounce of pork and 57 eurocent per ounce of beef. For milk, the levy would be 25 euro cents per liter and for cheese 25 euro cents per 100 grams. For organic dairy and meat, that could be half, or a possible exemption from the levy for a certain period.

The plan of TAPP coalition takes into account low incomes. For example, 4 million people should be compensated with 120 euros per year through a higher healthcare allowance. And the 0% VAT on fresh fruit and vegetables that the cabinet wants to introduce in 2024 should be extended to processed fruit and vegetables, nuts, meat and dairy substitutes. Then almost everyone would make a net improvement.

The nature and environmental organisations are: the World Wildlife Fund, GreenpeaceNL, LandschappenNL, Milieudefensie, Natuurmonumenten, Natuur & Milieu, the Nature and Environment Federations, SoortenNL and Vogelbescherming Nederland.

View the letter

Tappcoalitie.nl