In view of the rising food prices, the FDP rejects both an increase in VAT on meat, milk and eggs and an animal welfare tax. “Anyone who makes German meat more expensive drives consumers to buy cheaper foreign meat,” Gero Hocker, spokesman for agricultural policy for the parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told the Tagesspiegel. “This is doing German farmers a disservice.”
The trade also warns of state-imposed price surcharges through a higher tax or levy. Consumers had to pay almost twelve percent more for meat and meat products in April than a year ago. “In view of this sharp price increase, people with low incomes in particular must continue to be able to secure their basic needs,” warned a spokesman for the Federal Association of the German Food Trade. “In the eyes of many consumers, this also includes animal products.”
Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) wants to introduce mandatory labeling for meat. Consumers should be able to see at a glance whether the animal was in the stable or had an outlet. Farmers should be supported in converting to higher quality forms of husbandry. One billion euros have been earmarked for this in the federal budget for this legislative period. However, further funding is unclear. A higher VAT for animal products, animal welfare and a purely market-based solution are under discussion. Özdemir and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) want to talk about the topic this Thursday.
