Dennis Radtke, the head of the CDU’s employees’ wing (CDA), expressed openness to removing the value-added tax (VAT) on healthy foods. His stance came in response to a similar proposal from the SPD parliamentary group. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt” (Monday edition), Radtke stated, “I consider a VAT reduction on staple foods to be a conceivable form of relief”. The CDA chairman emphasized the need for immediate action, adding, “It is important that we find measures that help right away”. Regarding the current debate about actions following the crises related to the Iran, Radtke urged urgency, criticizing the federal government for what he viewed as sluggish action. “The government must leave the discussion phase and act now” he asserted.
Earlier, Esra Limbacher, the deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group, had demanded the removal of VAT on items such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, bread, noodles, rice, eggs, and water, while explicitly excluding confectionery or soft drinks.
Till Steffen, the consumer policy spokesperson for the Green parliamentary group, criticized this initiative. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Steffen claimed, “The SPD never thinks things through completely, as usual”. Although acknowledging the possibility of discussing a VAT reduction, he cautioned that such a reduction would likely not apply to items like “apples from South Africa or meat from Argentina, or industrial animal farming”. Steffen also warned against assuming that such reductions would prove effective as a short-term remedy, noting, “They will not be sustained”. Instead, he advocated for stronger oversight of pricing. “A functional market supervisory authority brings more” he concluded.
