Morocco Considers Tax Hike on Sugary Drinks to Combat Obesity and Diabetes

Parliament intends to play its part in the fight against obesity and diabetes. A meeting was organized in this direction. The members of the finance committees of the two chambers of Parliament, the representatives of the ministries in charge of Industry, Finance and Health participated in it. A meeting that is in line with the government’s commitment before the two parliamentary committees during the examination of the 2022 Finance Bill, and the proposal of a set of amendments to broaden the scope of application of the TIC on products containing sugar, in order to preserve the health of citizens and to restore part of the subsidy intended for the categories of vulnerable and poor.

During this meeting, the stakeholders discussed the possibilities of imposing a TIC on certain products containing sugar other than beverages, reports Aujourd’hui Le Maroc. It was decided that a working group bringing together parliamentarians, the departments concerned, representatives of industrialists, as well as consumer protection associations would be set up. This group will have to work to identify the lists of products that could potentially be affected by an extension of the tax.