Steering Committee of the Indirect Taxation Authority (UIO) proposed the increase in excise tax on carbonated soft drinks by 15 fennings.
Current excise tax on carbonated soft drinks amounts to 10 fennings, and the Steering Committee of UIO defined the Draft law on amendments to the Law on Excise Taxes. The Council of Ministers is expected to react on the proposed increase of excise tax.
Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Finance of BiH Nataša Krsman, confirmed that the excise tax should be increased by 15 fennings and that the funds generated would be used exclusively for the funds of health insurance.
The reason behind the increase of excise tax on carbonated soft drinks is not clearly stated. Unofficially, the authorities claim that those are harmful drinks. With this increase, the authorities intend to influence the decrease of their consumption and the filling of the budget of health funds, which are in desperate condition.
The adopted Draft Law should be considered by the Council of Ministers of BiH. If the Council of Ministers approves it, it will be considered by the delegates in the Parliament of BiH.
Prior to making amendments to this law, it is necessary to amend other laws treating this area in order to enable the redirecting of the funds directly to the health funds.
(Source: klix.ba)
