The Dutch government last week announced the world’s first tax which specifically targets saturated fats in efforts to fight cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Under the tax, the price for foods like butter, cheese and pork fat experienced price rises from 45 cents to 70 cents.
The tax imposes a 16 krone (roughly $3) hike per kilo of saturated fat on any food that contains more than 2.3 percent.
Fiji’s Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma said the tax showed commitment by state heads to fight the problem of non-communicable diseases.
“Although here in Fiji we are taking actions on a piece-meal basis, Denmark has really shown a stern action in the tax ban imposed. The target towards fatty foods is defiantly what the health ministry in Fiji is also partaking and we applaud and support Denmark in this initiative,” said Sharma.
