Tax

Supermarket shelves with alt milk courtesy ProVeg

Image courtesy ProVeg
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Plant-Based Brands Condemn “Discriminatory” Taxes on Milk Alternatives in Belgium

Plant-based brands are drawing attention to the disparities in taxes on milk alternatives in Belgium, which have been described as “discriminatory”. Like cow’s milk, rice and soy milks are exempt from taxes, but other types — such as almond, oat, and pea — are not legally considered to be alternative milk sources. This means they are taxed at a rate of 22 cents for sweetened drinks and 17 cents for unsweetened. Unexpected bill One company that has fallen victim to this disparity is Tiptoh, a Belgian pea milk producer. When the company first launched, the founders assumed their product fell within the milk alternative category. However, they then received a bill for €30,000 in excise duties, plus a €10,000 fine. “I had no idea we …

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Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Most Plant Milks to Face 196% Tax Increase in the Netherlands

Many plant-based milk alternatives could be subject to a 196% tax increase in the Netherlands next year because they are classed as soft drinks. Oat, almond, and coconut milk will all face higher taxes, with the rate increasing from 9 to 26 cents per litre. Dairy milk will be exempt as it is considered a “basic necessity”, while soy and pea-based milk alternatives will also avoid the tax rise as their protein content is comparable to cow’s milk. The tax has been questioned by the country’s Party for the Animals, which said it was illogical to group plant milks with drinks such as Coca-Cola. The Dutch government responded that milk alternatives had not been researched enough to determine their health impact, and said recommendations were …

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