Obesity costs the state more than 20 billion euros. A report proposes to tax products above a caloric threshold. The Ministry of the Economy refused such an option.
Obesity weighs heavily on state spending. Combined with overweight, this disease caused an additional cost of 20.4 billion euros in 2012. A significant bill which is explained by the share of the affected population: 15% of the French are obese and 32% overweight. The situation should worsen in the next decade, predicts the General Directorate of the Treasury, affiliated with the Ministry of the Economy. One of its members published a note on the health and economic repercussions of being overweight.
It must be said that among the people in a situation of obesity suffer, in a third of the cases, from other affections of long duration. Health spending is therefore at the expense of Health Insurance, which alone supports 12.6 billion euros. “The expenses related to obesity that we have estimated are comparable to those of alcohol and tobacco”, underlines the note of Daniel Caby, who puts forward several avenues to prevent this additional cost.
“Be ingenious”
France has already started its obesity prevention policy, by passing several taxes. The oldest applies to sugary and sweetened drinks. In 2012, it brought in 400 million euros to the Health Insurance. Its equivalent on energy drinks has been shown to be less effective. It only brought in 3 million euros in 2014. There are also pensions that have not been paid due to premature mortality. The revenues are therefore minimal and the impact severely limited. Daniel Caby, who signs this note, wants to fight effectively against overweight and obesity by improving these programs already started.
Involving doctors more in the monitoring of overweight people is the backbone of its preventive strategy. “Among the proposals is an additional investment in prevention, notes the deputy Olivier Véran (PS) contacted by Why actor. It is never too late to take innovative measures. We have to innovate, be able to target the populations most at risk, be ingenious. “
Tax by calories
Financial measures are also proposed. The relevance of taxes in particular can be further improved, for example by targeting them more. The General Directorate of the Treasury therefore proposes to create a penalty on certain foods that participate in the obesity epidemic, sugar in the first place. A more affordable alternative also emerges from these lines: a taxation of products “beyond a certain level of calories”, following the Mexican example. It is also necessary that the tax is sufficiently dissuasive: if it represents 20% of the price, in the case of sodas, the effectiveness is proven. Below, the effects are not significant.
Olivier Véran is more cautious with regard to what he calls coercive measures. “These tax measures have been the subject of heated debate in Parliament. It is a difficult fight to bear and it is not certain that this is the right solution, he judges. Behavior differs according to the territories, the incomes … From a social point of view, that is not favorable. ”Besides the lobbying of the agri-food industry is alive in the corridors of the National Assembly.
A double refusal to the ministry
The ministry on which the General Directorate of the Treasury depends is obviously not of the same opinion. Christian Eckert, Secretary of State for the Budget, quickly ruled out this possibility. “No, there is no question of regrouping all the taxes in a single tax which would take into account the calories”, he decided at the microphone of the radio RTL. The necessary reform would be too complex, he explains, adding that other “behavioral” taxes are being studied by the National Assembly. They would relate, according to his statements, to oils, flour, margarine or even chocolate. In short, an improved Nutella tax.
His direct superior, Michel Sapin – Minister of the Economy and Finance – was even more categorical on Classic Radio. It is out of the question to create taxes while the government “tries to lower taxes, to abolish taxes”. He also recalled the role of adviser to the Treasury department, which belongs to his ministerial portfolio: “The Treasury department is there to make proposals, to fuel reflection and it happens that the policies are there to decide. The message is crystal clear.
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