The President highlighted that the objective of the increase in the IEPS for sugary drinks is to reduce the consumption of soft drinks and prevent diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity in the population.
-Information in development
Mexico City, October 17 (However).- The President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo He stated this Friday that his government will review that the agreement to which he arrived with the soft drink industry to reduce the use of sugar in the production of processed beverages and halve the increase in Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) to products with sweeteners or non-caloric sweeteners, also known as “light” or “zero”.
“Of course it will be reviewed by Cofepris. It is nothing more than ‘I propose to you’ and then it is not fulfilled. Cofepris has to measure that in effect, at the moment in which they commit, it has 30 percent less sugar. They asked that the IEPS be removed by 30 percent only for drinks that are not, those called ‘zero’ or ‘light’ diet, it is not for sugary drinks,” he responded. to express question of However during the morning conference.
At the same time, he explained that the soft drink companies also agreed to reduce the cost of reduced-sugar drinks, since in the past they had equalized the costs of both drinks, even though only the sugary ones had received an increase in the tax.
“In the past, the IEPS for soft drinks had been increased a little and light drinks did not have it. However, what did the soft drinks companies do? They equalized the price, so they made a higher profit on light soft drinks because it did not have the tax. Now they were told: ‘well, it is going to increase by 1.5, before it did not have it’. But it also has to cost cheaper, if it is really for the benefit of health, if not, then it has the same prices,” he explained.
Sheinbaum reiterated that the objective is to reduce the consumption of soft drinks and avoid diseases that afflict Mexicans such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
“Ultimately the objective is to reduce the consumption of soft drinks, and avoid greater diabetes and hypertension or obesity in the population. So it has nothing to do with whether who is there was from the PRI before or is still, I don’t know, but the agreement that is reached, which is transparent, which is informed to the population, and which ultimately has the objective of reducing the impacts of sugary drinks on health,” he expressed.