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30 INTERNATIONAL AWEMainta Diabierna, 3 November 2023
Colombia Implements Latin America’s Most
Ambitious ‘Healthy Tax’ on Ultra-Processed Foods
A groundbreaking public health
measure has taken effect in Colombia,
introducing progressive taxes starting
at 10% on a range of ultra-processed
foods and preparations, including
sugary beverages, sweets, and some
processed meats. Experts in public
health from Chile and Mexico regard
this initiative as the most compre-
hensive of its kind in the region. While
other countries have made progress in
areas like regulating advertising during
family hours and implementing front-
of-pack nutrition labeling, Colombia’s
“junk food law,” part of President
Gustavo Petro’s tax reform, presents a
holistic approach.
The tax rates for sugary beverages and over 40% of the population, across ham, consisting of only two ingredi-
ultra-processed foods will be incre- all age groups. High salt consump- ents, meat and salt. He contends that
mental under the new regulations. The tion is a significant contributing factor, not all food processing is detrimental
tax rate will increase by 10% for the prompting medical and civil organiza- and calls for a focus on improving food
remainder of 2023, followed by a 15% tions to campaign for reduced sodium quality.
increase in 2024, ultimately reaching intake, as well as for reductions in
20% by 2025. The tax on sugary drinks added sugars and saturated fats in Lessons from Mexico and Chile, which
will be adjusted based on the sugar diets. have implemented similar health poli-
concentration per 100 milliliters. cies, suggest that such initiatives have
Obesity and overweight rates have the potential to reshape consumer
Large corporations have vehemently also been on the rise, with the Ministry behavior and the food industry.
opposed this measure for years, of Health estimating that 56.4% of Reports show decreased consump-
expressing concerns about its impact Colombians were overweight in 2021. tion of certain categories previously
on small retailers and producers. The These health concerns counterbalance deemed healthy but later found to be
new regulations are met with skepti- the commercial sector’s economic less so, which compelled the industry
cism from the industry, particularly apprehensions, with few strategies to to reduce critical components.
regarding their effects on economic discourage the consumption of labeled
hardships and rising food prices, given “junk” food aligning with industry Studies also indicated that front-of-
Colombia’s recent inflation spike. expectations. pack labeling in Chile didn’t increase
production costs or result in higher
Industry claims in this regard mirror Critics argue that the govern- consumer prices. Lorena Rodríguez, a
the early debates in Mexico following ment’s criteria for categorizing prod- Chilean pediatrician, and former head
the introduction of the sugar tax in ucts have been subpar, exempting of nutrition at her country’s Ministry of
2014. In both cases, industry-spon- certain products from the tax unnec- Health, reinforced the idea that indus-
sored studies questioned the effective- essarily while unfairly taxing others. tries often adapt to meet regulations,
ness of such taxes. Thierry Ways, a prominent busi- reducing sugar, calories, and sodium
nessman, highlights examples such content in products. Consequently,
Health experts highlight the increasing as exempting a processed sausage, consumers are less likely to purchase
prevalence of hypertension and prehy- which contains more additives than more expensive products with adverse
pertension in Colombia, affecting meat, while imposing a tax on natural health effects.
