Craftsmen in Saxony oppose packaging tax

The Saxon Chamber of Skilled Crafts is calling on the state government to ban municipal packaging taxes. An additional levy would pose an incalculable risk to the economic development of food processing businesses.

Due to the difficult financial situation in municipalities, towns and cities, including Leipzig, are considering introducing a local packaging tax. The Free State of Bavaria has prohibited this; since the beginning of this year, the introduction of such an additional levy has been illegal.

The Saxon Chamber of Skilled Crafts is now calling on the Saxon state government to follow Bavaria's example. An additional levy would pose an incalculable risk to the economic development of Saxon food processing businesses.

"A packaging tax would increase the pressure."

"Rising prices for raw materials, energy, and social security contributions, coupled with a reluctance to spend among customers, are part of everyday life for companies. Introducing a packaging tax would increase the pressure. Furthermore, it clearly contradicts the relief measures taken by the federal government, such as the reduced VAT rate of seven percent on food," says Uwe Nostitz.

Municipal packaging taxes are bureaucratic, economically burdensome, and difficult to implement in everyday practice, according to the president of the Saxon Chamber of Skilled Crafts. Many questions arise regarding the definition of which types of packaging and materials are affected and which are not, the recording of pre-portioned products, the necessary training of staff, and the mandatory adjustment of operational processes.

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Competitive disadvantage due to bureaucracy

Nostitz: "Bakers, butchers, ice cream makers, confectioners, mills, and private brewers make an indispensable contribution to regional food supply and the majority already participate in reusable packaging systems." The bureaucracy involved in documenting and monitoring an additional tax would represent a further competitive disadvantage for locally sourced food products.

"Reducing bureaucracy and providing relief are the order of the day. A packaging tax runs counter to this goal. It is not the responsibility of businesses to raise awareness about avoiding packaging waste. Rather, voluntary incentives should be the focus."

Source: Saxon Crafts Day

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