EU Parliament event to discuss Dutch proposal for Fair Meat Prices 5th Feb (media coverage)
PRESS RELEASE
European Parliament Event to discuss Dutch proposal for Fair Meat Prices
New reports calls for environmental cost to be included in meat prices, with benefits for all
DOWNLOAD THE TAPP COALITION REPORT HERE
DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS HERE
TAPP Coalition report: "Aligning food pricing policies with the European Green Deal - True pricing of meat and dairy in Europe, including CO2 costs, a Discussion Paper"
DOWNLOAD THE CE DELFT REPORT OR CE SUMMARY REPORT HERE
Interview with Tapp Coalition director Jeroom Remmers about the proposal (4:29 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anqQqcASM70&t=4s
Youtube video made by China Global Television Network, summarizing the TAPP Coalition EU meat pricing proposal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1_zrcCGnM (55 seconds)
Arte TV (Germany) had an item 21st of February about the TAPP Coalition proposal for the EU (minute 0.58-2.55): https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/094279-017-A/klimasuende-fleisch-eine-co2-steuer-aufs-steak/
Photos of the event: https://we.tl/t-fXI5kJhWqe
Here are more video’s now of the event with some MEPs quotes on it: https://twitter.com/CIWF_EU/status/1225052112285061122
A selection of the international media coverage:
1. Guardian article 5th Feb 2020
2. IEG Policy Agribusiness article 6th feb 2020
3. Le Monde article 6th Feb 2020
4. Fortune article 6th Feb 2020
Euronews (Good Morning Europe TV) broadcasted this item about the TAPP Coalition proposal 5th Feb 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtyAggJDyA
PRESS RELEASE
European Parliament Event to discuss Dutch proposal for Fair Meat Prices
New reports calls for environmental cost to be included in meat prices, with benefits for all
On 5 February 5th, Members of the European Parliament will discuss a plan to significantly reduce European CO2 emissions, boost the EU’s biodiversity, public health, animal welfare goals, and increase farm income by €10-15 billion per year. The plan is made by the TAPP Coalition, which comprises leading farming, health, food and environment organisations. The EU parliament will not vote about it, but during the event the proposal is presented and discussed amongst MEPs present.
The plan is to increase the price of meat across the EU to reflect its environmental costs, including CO2 emissions and biodiversity loss. All revenues will be 100% re-invested. The plan, developed by the Dutch TAPP Coalition for a fairer -higher- meat price, was supported over the last year by a majority of Dutch consumers (63%) in a survey last year.
The Dutch Cabinet will soon present a proposal for fair meat prices and wider fiscal reforms, with the Dutch Parliament in early 2020, based on TAPP Coalitions proposals. On February 5th TAPP experts will share the Dutch criteria for successful change, as well as new EU calculations. Aiming to start a discussion on how to scale up this Dutch model to fit Europe, based on a higher meat price with benefits for all stakeholders involved, including farmers, consumers and environmental ngo’s.
The proposal for a fair meat prices, sustainability cost included, is set out in a new report written by CE Delft, commissioned by the TAPP Coalition, called “A sustainability charge on meat’. It calls for a new pricing model to be included in the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy. Based on the CE Delft report, TAPP Coalition also wrote a report with policy proposals for the EU Commission and Member States. A key aspect of the proposal is that revenues from the ‘fair meat price’ (a sustainability charge), estimated at €32.2 billion per year across 28 EU Member States by 2030, could be used partly to help farmers to invest in more sustainable agricultural practices. It could also be used to lower VAT and consumer subsidies on vegetables and fruits, provide financial support for low-income households, and support developing countries to adapt to climate change and protect forests. In the Dutch proposal for a ‘fair meat price’ the higher price will be 100% re-invested too. In a lower VAT on vegetables and fruits of 4%, €600 mln subsidies annually for farmers’ income support for sustainable farming and a raise of €120 for health care allowance for lower income groups.
Researchers of CE Delft have explored the applicability and potential environmental savings of fairer meat pricing to Europe. Fair meat prices in Europe could lead to a reduction in CO2-eq. emissions of up to 120 million tons of CO2 per year. This equals all CO2 emissions from four EU Member States: Ireland, Denmark, Slovakia, and Estonia, nearly 3% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions.
Hosted and moderated by the Vice-Chair of the Greens, Bas Eickhout, and co-hosted by Social Democrat MEPs Mohammed Chahim and Sylwia Spurek, a wide variety of MEPs will discuss the plan. The event is co organized with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).
Climate Professor and TAPP Coalition Chair Pier Vellinga has strong confidence on the potential for Europe: “Including the environmental cost of animal protein in the price is a crucial element of meeting EU targets for climate, biodiversity, public health, farming and animal welfare. Europe offers more complexity but also higher rewards, for all”.
Notes to editors
Journalists are able to attend from 8-9.30am at room A5E1 in the European Parliament, Wiertzstraat 60. To register, please email to eu.office@ciwf.org or info@tappcoalitie.nl. For more info, please see: https://tappcoalition.eu/nieuws The CE Delft report and the TAPP Coalition report will be online 3rd of Feb 18h at: https://tappcoalition.eu/nieuws
Jeroom Remmers, director TAPP Coalition +31 6 22 40 7712 info@tappcoalitie.nl, R. Vergeer: +31644051853 (author CE Delft). Prof. Pier Vellinga, chair TAPP Coalition +31 6 51616618, Olga Kikou, Head of CIWF EU, +32 (0) 27091330
More info see below and see EU meat facts and solutions at : https://tappcoalition.eu/true-pricing-of-food
Jeroom Remmers, TAPP Coalition Director, added: “We could also save billions of Euros every year in healthcare costs if EU meat consumption goes down and plant based consumption goes up, as Europeans eat roughly 50% more meat than is recommended in dietary health guidelines.”
The TAPP Coalition report “Aligning food pricing policies with the European Green Deal -True Pricing of meat and dairy in Europe, including CO2 costs” is based on a report by CE Delft: “A Sustainability Charge on Meat’, commissioned by TAPP Coalition. Both reports will be presented 5th of February.
The proposal is generally in line with food recommendations for the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy from a range of European civil society organisations and with recent recommendations by three leading European health NGOs (EUPHA, EPHA, EHN) "Farm to Fork needs an effective consumption strategy". The proposal is also in line with some demands from farmers.
The TAPP Coalition commissioned CE Delft to design a ‘fair price’ on meat, a sustainability charge based on external costs, and to give an indication of effects of implementation on the EU-28 level. If EU Member States introduced ‘fair meat prices’, meat prices would increase by 47 euro cent per 100 gram beef/veal, 36 euro cent per 100 gram pork, and 17 euro cent per 100 gram chicken by 2030. This reflects the fact that environmental costs per kg of beef are highest. This would lead to a reduction in chicken, pork, and beef consumption of 30%, 57% and 67% by 2030. CE Delft proposes that the charge rate gradually increases from 10% of the external costs in 2021 to full coverage by 2030 until all environmental costs are included in prices.
The main impacts of a sustainability charge would be net EU welfare impacts (benefits) of € 8.8 billion per year in 2030 (€7.9 billion climate-related). EU-28 Member States would receive revenues from excise taxes on meat, based on True Price Accounting (external costs) of € 32.2 billion per year. The TAPP Coalition advises revenues to be used for farmers (31-46%), lower VAT tariffs and consumer subsidies on vegetables and fruits (22-36%), compensations for low-income households (19%) and support for developing countries to double nature reserves/forests, reduce greenhouse gasses, and adapt to climate change (12%). TAPP Coalition director Remmers will hand over symbolic cheques to representatives of farmers (€10-15 billion/year) and consumers (€7-12 billion/year) for subsidies/lower VAT on vegetables, fruits, and plant-based food; and €6 billion for compensations of low-income households. A cheque of €4 billion is available for developing countries. If €15 billion/year would be granted to 2.5 million EU farmers, incomes would rise by €6000/yr. The Farmers Cheque will handed over to Isabella Lang, Policy Coordinator of IFOAM EU, the Consumer Cheques will be handed over to Camille Perrin, Senior Food Policy Officer & Team Leader BEUC.
The Dutch ‘fair meat price’ success case
In the Netherlands, the TAPP Coalition proposals for meat and vegetable prices are supported by a majority of 63% of Dutch consumers. According to an inquiry amongst 1000 Dutch people (DHV Insights, Oktober 2019), 62% of Dutch liberal party VVD voters support the TAPPC fair meat price plan, 61% of Social Democrats, 54% of Christian Democrats and 73% of Dutch Greens. On 13 November 2019, the Dutch Finance Minister Menno Snel committed for the Dutch Parliament to make a fiscal plan including the TAPP Coalition proposal for a ‘fair meat price’. TAPP Coalition expects a lower VAT on vegetables and fruits, and subsidies for farmers are included too. This plan will be handed over to the Dutch Parliament in early 2020, included in a plan for fiscal reforms.
Role of the European Commission, EU Member States and European Parliament
The TAPP Coalition proposes that EU Member States start pricing meat with 1 euro per kg meat. Later on, the minimum tariff could be differentiated for beef, chicken and pork as proposed by CE Delft for 2025 and 2030. To maintain a level playing field and prevent ‘cross boarder shopping of meat in countries without fair meat prices, the EU, supported by European MEPs, could mandate or facilitate a minimum tax on meat consumption and carbon border tax adjustment mechanisms for imported meat products, to make sure cheap imported meat in countries without any environmental tax or policy, is taxed when entering the EU. The tariffs are based on calculated environmental costs, including greenhouse gas emissions (90 euro/ton CO2eq), air pollution and landuse/biodiversity loss. EU Member States will be responsible for enacting ‘fair meat price’ excise taxes, similar to the excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, fuels and aviation. For gasoline, heating and electricity, the EU has also mandated a minimum excise tax for its Member States and the EU tries to harmonise aviation taxes in different EU countries. European harmonised ‘fair meat’ taxes would reduce market disturbances. Increasing VAT rates on meat could be an option, but price increases may be too low to change meat consumption and price increases will not include all external environmental costs. In addition, the TAPP Coalitions asks the EU Commission to reduce subsidies for meat and dairy production and take the lead in global CO2-eq. reduction programmes for the meat- and dairy sectors and for CO2-pricing mechanisms to contribute to reduction. FAO expects global meat consumption to grow in 2050 compared to 2005 with over 50% (beef), 43% (pork) and 125% (chicken) and with 25% in 2030 compared to 2015. Global annual meat consumption is growing with 1,2% (average 2014-2018). This is not at all in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
In 2018, Marco Springmann, Oxford University published a health motivated proposal for taxes on meat. The optimal tax level for processed and red meat was calculated to reduce health care costs in 140 countries, including many EU countries. Ten large European countries together can reduce €8,94 billion per year in health care costs, that can be attributed to consumption of red and processed meat. This can be done by health taxes on meat, with tax revenues of €26,6 billion per year in the 10 selected countries (France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium).
Sources: TAPP Coalition proposal ‘EU Fair Meat Price’: https://tappcoalition.eu/nieuws (4th of Feb 18 h CET); Oxford University proposal Health tax on meat Marco Springmann et al: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0204139 List of countries in Oxford University proposal: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0204139.s001&type=supplementary
According to a report of RISE foundation in 2018, on average in the EU and in 19 EU Member States, meat consumption is double the amounts advised in dietary guidelines for health: http://www.risefoundation.eu/images/files/2018/2018_RISE_LIVESTOCK_EXEC_SUMM.pdf
End of Press Release
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Media coverage:
News articles about EU proposal ‘fair meat price’ TAPP Coalition
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/04/eu-meat-tax-climate-emergency
https://fortune.com/2020/02/06/emissions-europe-meat-tax/
https://thesunnews.co.uk/eu-urged-to-adopt-meat-tax-to-tackle-climate-emergency/
https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/05/the-steaks-are-too-high-eu-considers-introduction-of-meat-tax-to-fight-climate-change
https://fr.news.yahoo.com/ong-veut-imposer-taxe-25-120448593.html?
https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/eu-pressured-to-introduce-sustainability-charge-on-meat
https://en24.news/A/2020/02/a-meat-tax-to-fight-global-warming.html
https://www.plantbasednews.org/law-and-politics/eu-meat-tax-could-help-tackle-climate-change
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1236415/Brexit-news-EU-meat-tax-sustainability-charge-meat-prices-climate-change-EU-Green-Deal
https://proveg.com/blog/sustainability-charge/
http://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/article/180746/eu-set-to-consider-meat-charge
https://www.just-food.com/news/european-parliament-to-consider-sustainability-charge-on-meat_id143019.aspx
https://www.fdiforum.net/mag/health-safety/sustainability-charge-meat-debated/
https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2020/01/31/EU-could-increase-meat-prices
https://www.naturalproductsglobal.com/europe/meps-to-debate-sustainability-charge-on-meat/
https://euromeatnews.com/Article-Meat-taxation-proposal-enters-the-European-Parliament/3570
https://www.ciwf.eu/news/2020/01/whats-the-true-price-of-meat
https://proveg.prowly.com/85064-parlament-europejski-rozwazy-oplate-srodowiskowa-za-miesohttps://www.beefpoint.com.br/ue-busca-adotar-taxa-de-sustentabilidade-na-carne/
Spanish media
https://www.milenio.com/negocios/proponen-imponer-impuesto-carne-impacto-ambiental
https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/buscan-impuesto-carne-impacto-medio-ambiente/
https://www.ultimahora.com/ue-estudia-impuesto-la-carne-cuidar-medioambiente-n2868719.html
https://www.diariodemorelos.com/noticias/proponen-impuesto-la-carne-por-su-impacto-al-medio-ambiente
https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/sociedad/medioambiente/impuesto-a-la-carne-la-ultima-propuesta-para-reducir-su-impacto-ambiental/2020-02-05/155617.html
https://www.diariodeleon.es/articulo/internacional/coal/202002051837361983781.html
https://tecnologiaambiental.mx/2020/02/05/proponen-impuesto-a-la-carne-por-su-impacto-ambiental/
Italian news (selection, see more on google 'task sulla carne')
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7hCfGJo96E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyRj15JMagk
https://www.money.it/tassa-sulla-carne-proposta-parlamento-europeo
https://quifinanza.it/fisco-tasse/video/tassa-carne-ue-dopo-plastic-sugar-tax/353611/
https://www.italiaoggi.it/news/ora-l-ue-vuole-un-imposta-del-25-sulla-carne-2424276
https://www.agrifoodtoday.it/attualita/tassa-carne-ue.html
Polish news
https://swiatrolnika.info/mieso-ma-zostac-oblozone-ogromnym-podatkiem-mamy-jesc-mniej-i-placic-drogo
Portugese news
https://www.euqueroinvestir.com/carne-taxada-ue-ongs-holanda/
New since 8th Feb
https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/17/meat-tax-brought-save-planet-10757128/
https://happymag.tv/european-union-proposes-new-meat-tax-to-address-climate-crisis/
https://www.edie.net/news/11/EU-lawmakers-voice-support-for-meat-tax-to-cover-environmental-costs-of-livestock/https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2020/02/05/EU-lawmakers-discuss-sustainability-charge-on-meat
https://www.vgn.news/post/european-union-asked-to-consider-adding-sustainability-charge-to-meat
https://meatex.co.uk/2020/02/03/eu-considers-sustainability-charge-on-meat-prices-to-fight-climate-change/
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/eu-meat-tax-environmental-damange-eat-healthy/
https://www.beefcentral.com/news/eu-parliament-considers-meat-tax-proposal/https://usaveganmag.com/eu-pressured-to-introduce-sustainability-charge-on-meat/https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-02-06/Tax-beef-pork-and-chicken-to-help-climate-and-health-EU-urged-NQfVfCgMIo/index.htmlhttps://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/johnson-sets-out-his-climate-crisis-vision-as-cameron-turns-down-talks-rolehttps://iegpolicy.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/email-verification?returnUrl=/email-verification?returnUrl=%2fPL222958%2fEU-tax-on-unsustainable-meat-could-raise-32-billion-per-year-new-report-finds%3fvid%3dAgri&istrial=true&istrial=true&vid=Agri&processId=7e9f2625-40be-4af0-b3e2-3654a1e19f03
https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/eu-pressured-to-introduce-sustainability-charge-on-meat
https://www.fairr.org/article/european-parliamentarians-voice-support-for-meat-tax/
https://www.slowfood.com/meat-taxes-inevitable-solution-to-the-climate-emergency/
https://www.intelligentliving.co/the-eu-plans-to-adopt-a-meat-tax-to-fight-the-climate-crisis/
https://www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/96277/tax-meat-to-help-consumers-transition-to-better-diets/
https://www.airclim.org/acidnews/call-introduce-meat-taxes-eu-0
https://www.youngbhartiya.com/article/should-the-eu-implement-a-meat-tax
https://www.thatsfarming.com/news/meat-tax-proposal-sent-to-the-eu
https://www.livingvegan.com/the-eu-considers-the-introduction-of-meat-tax-to-tackle-climate-change/
https://polandin.com/46617358/govt-butchers-idea-of-taxing-meat
https://polanddaily.com/969-polish-government-against-meat-tax
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/opinion-why-hong-kong-needs-a-meat-tax-covering-climate-now/
TV broadcastings about the event in the European Parliament
Youtube video made by China Global Television Network, summarizing the TAPP Coalition EU meat pricing proposal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1_zrcCGnM (55 seconds)
Arte TV (Germany) had an item 21st of February about the TAPP Coalition proposal for the EU (minute 0.58-2.55): https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/094279-017-A/klimasuende-fleisch-eine-co2-steuer-aufs-steak/
10 feb 2020: French video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUKEzToWE5o
Polish National TV: https://wiadomosci.tvp.pl/46531638/podatek-od-miesa-w-calej-ue
FranceTV3: 6 Feb 19.30h https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replayjt/france-3/19-20/
(interview with Jeroom Remmers, director Tapp Coalition)
Russian news TV, Saturday 15th Feb; livestream at ntv.ru 19.00 Moscow time (incl. interview with Jeroom Remmers).
from minute 4.44-6.28 https://www.ntv.ru/video/1825723/?from=newspage
Euronews (Good Morning Europe TV) broadcasted this item about the TAPP Coalition proposal 5th Feb 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtyAggJDyA
Message from nov 2019 when TAPP Coalition launched proposals in Dutch Parliament:
https://www.time24.news/a/2019/11/the-dutch-want-to-pay-more-for-meat.html
German debate about meat price – jan 2020
https://www.tagesschau.de/mehr/faktenfinder/fleischpreise-105.html
Facebook and Twitter
More photos and videos from the event can be found on CIWF Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/CIWF_EU/status/1225004225421303818?fbclid=IwAR3H5HkyEPolRaLMzs9iQ2sXNZbCiNSmIjRACf2v5pNTjhxKwhz_5tEmrz8
https://www.facebook.com/Tapp-coalitie-415579765917308/?modal=admin_todo_tour
https://twitter.com/CIWF_EU?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroom-remmers-3689097/ (3 articles) https://www.facebook.com/NewFoodMagazine/posts/in-early-february-2020-the-tapp-coalition-will-present-the-european-parliament-w/2295973417168958/
https://facebook.com/events/s/the-true-price-of-meat/2545900215678718/?ti=icl
https://twitter.com/ProVeg_Int/status/1223211378397392897?s=20
Dutch news coverage about EU launch proposal
https://www.boerderij.nl/Home/Nieuws/2020/2/Idee-voor-eerlijke-vleesprijs-in-EU-geplugd-535690E/
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/02/07/hoe-maak-je-wortel-van-worst-a3989721
https://transitiecoalitievoedsel.nl/eu-parlement-in-gesprek-over-eerlijke-vleesprijzen/