The European Parliament has approved an amendment to the European VAT rules allowing the Netherlands to reduce VAT on vegetables and fruit after all. Previously, the Dutch government considered this impossible because EU rules would prevent it. Procedures have now been adjusted, and Poland has already temporarily abolished VAT on food.
The Party for the Animals reiterates its call to the Dutch government to now reduce VAT on vegetables and fruit to 0%. “This decision comes at the right time as prices for many products have risen rapidly. This is the ideal moment to lower VAT on vegetables and fruit and thus make these products cheaper for consumers,” says Member of Parliament Eva van Esch.
As early as 2015, the Party for the Animals pushed in the House of Representatives for VAT exemption on vegetables and fruit. At that time, an exemption was still prevented by Brussels regulations.
Member of the European Parliament Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals) repeatedly pushed in Brussels for the freedom of EU countries to make healthy and sustainable products more affordable. Last October, at Hazekamp’s initiative, the European Parliament called for making exemptions possible. The healthiest and most sustainable food choice should also be the cheapest choice, she said.
The European Commission and EU countries have been negotiating since 2018 on an amendment to European rules and reached an agreement last December. The European Parliament definitively approved the change to VAT rules on Wednesday.