Russian authorities may expand the list of excisable non-alcoholic beverages

The Russian Ministry of Finance considers it appropriate to prepare proposals to expand the list of sugar-containing soft drinks subject to excise tax. This is stated in the appendix to the main directions of budget, tax and customs-tariff policy for 2025-2027, submitted to the State Duma. The document explained that the expansion of the list is due to the difficulties of defining some sugar-containing drinks as excisable. The problems arise due to the large list of soft drinks that are not subject to excise taxation. These include fortified food products (these may include juices and dry concentrates for making drinks, where vitamins have been added) and plant-based drinks (for example, plant milk, oat drinks, etc.). Currently, sugar-containing soft drinks include products with added sugar or other sweeteners (glucose, sucrose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, lactose, sugar syrups or honey). A drink becomes excisable if the amount of carbohydrates in the nutritional value of the ...