Health store joins day of action over 23% VAT hike
AN Arklow independent health store owner joined a national day of action last Friday to highlight a planned 23 per cent consumer tax hike on vitamins, minerals and food supplements.
Kathy Rogers from Health at Hand on Main Street backed efforts by independent food stores to highlight the impact this hike from zero per cent will have on customers and small businesses.
From March 1, 23 per cent VAT will apply to all commonly used food supplements such as fish oils, glucosamine, probiotics and vitamins like folic acid and vitamin D.
‘This will undoubtedly have a big impact on customers. They don’t have lots of money to spend on these products but they find it because they keep them well, keep them out of doctors’ surgeries. They are not luxury items and this increase is a substantial one,’ Ms Rogers said.
She added that there will also be implications for small business owners.
‘It will now cost 23 per cent more to keep our shops stocked. We really don’t know how it will pan out after March 1,’ she said.
Health Stores Ireland spokesperson, Matt Ronan said: ‘We are witnessing the outrage from consumers to the tax hike that we had predicted. Customers, especially elderly and those with long term chronic conditions, are expressing frustration at a needless price hike on products that supports their attempts to take control of their health and wellbeing. These products are often recommended by GP’s and hard pressed consumers are finding the Revenue enforced escalating price as a misjudged barrier to health promotions and self care.’
Over 35,000 people have already signed petitions calling for the Minster for Finance and the Minister for Health to revisit the planned VAT hike and to fulfil his promise to the Dail from last November that the matter would be examined by the Tax Strategy Group to access its social and economic impact before it is considered.