Education and Science, Foodstuff, Health, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

When asked if there could be room for compromises with food producers regarding a proposal to introduce excise tax on chocolate, salt, sugar, and other products, the minister gave a negative answer.

Meanwhile, Inara Sure, representative of the Latvian Federation of Food Companies, said that producers are ready to implement technological changes in order to reduce the amount of unhealthy ingredients in their produce. She also explained that it would be more useful to speak in categories, avoiding the dichotomy between "healthy and unhealthy". Sure pointed out to the minister that the European Union has no definition on what constitutes "healthy" or "unhealthy" food.

"Without doubt, eating habits are important, but they must begin with families and schools. Physical exercise should not be forgotten either," said Sure. She also proposed, instead of introducing excise tax on unhealthy food products, to reduce the value added tax on healthy products.

The minister replied that it would be impossible in the current budget situation. He also said that unhealthy food makes society sick, as at the moment, 40 percent of Latvia's population has weight problems. The ministry's goal is to change people's eating habits, said Belevics.