Italy Decided to Postpone the Sugar Tax for One Year, to January 2024

Italy decided to postpone the sugar tax by one year. Although it is seen as an unfair "tax" by companies, the World Health Organization instead considers it a useful tool for citizens to adopt more balanced and healthy lifestyles and for food companies to modify their product recipes. In Europe, ten countries have already decided to introduce the sugar tax, including Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal, the Principality of Monaco, Norway, and the UK. The idea of introducing the "sugar tax" has been planned since 2019 in Italy, but it was always postponed. The general objective is to reduce the consumption of products with high amounts of sugar. In some cases, the rule also applies to drinks in which sugar is naturally present and those with artificial sweeteners. According to research, a tax-driven price increase induces manufacturers to change recipes. Once the tax is implemented in Italy, it is expected that sugar imports will decrease.