Belgium abandons plan to extend 'sugar tax'

Belgium's federal government has scrapped plans to introduce a "sugar tax" on sweets, yoghurts, cereals and sandwich spreads, reports L'Echo.

The increased excise duty already applies to soft drinks since this year and was due to be expanded to other types of sugary food and drink in 2017, bringing in an expected €200 million a year.

According to L'Echo, the idea has been dropped because the Charles Michel government "does not want to put extra burden" on household spending.

The fizzy drink tax this year amounted to one euro cent on a 33cl can of pop.

Patrick Mullie, a nutrition professor at VUB university, said: "People change their behaviour when prices go up by at least 20%. Less than that, and even if they find it expensive, they'll buy it anyway. This tax has just one aim: to generate revenue. It won't tackle obesity - that needs a much broader strategy."