Niti mulls proposal to tax foods high in sugar to tackle obesity

NEW DELHI: India can take actions such as taxation of foods high on sugar, fat and salt and front-of-the pack labelling to tackle rising obesity in the population, according to teh annual report of Niti Aayog.

The government think-tank is reviewing the evidence available to understand the actions India can take to tackle rising obesity in the population, the annual report 2021-22 stated.

The Aayog in the report mentioned that the incidences of overweight and obesity are increasing among children, adolescents and women.

“A national consultation on the prevention of maternal, adolescent and childhood obesity was organised under the Chairmanship of Member (Health), Niti Aayog, on June 24, 2021, to discuss policy options to tackle the issue. Niti Aayog, in collaboration with IEG and PHFI, is reviewing the evidence available to understand the actions India can take, such as front-ofpack labelling, marketing and advertising of HFSS foods and taxation of foods high in fats, sugar and salt, “it said.

Non-branded namkeens, bhujias, vegetable chips and snack foods attract 5% GST while for branded and packaged items, the GST rate is 12%.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-20, the percentage of obese women increased to 24% from 20.6% in 2015-16, while the percentage for men rose to 22.9% from 18.4% four years earlier.

The government think tank in its annual report also said that an expert committee under Niti Aayog member V K Saraswat to study the technological and commercial viability of the hyperloop system held four meetings so far and sub-committees were constituted.

The sub-committees suggested that hyperloop system be permitted to be built, owned and operated by the private sector.