Candy can go up by 40%

For excise duty on candy, two options appear in the proposals. The first is a single rate of 100 rubles per kilogram for chocolate and non-chocolate sweets. The second - 100 rubles per kilogram of chocolate and 47.7 rubles per kilogram of the rest. Now confectionery products are not excisable goods.

The timing of the proposals has not yet been announced. But to introduce an excise tax on candy and change the VAT rate on sugar, amendments to the Tax Code will be needed. However, the Association of Confectionery Industry Enterprises (ASCOND) sent comments to the Ministry of Agriculture on these initiatives. She warns of rising costs, revision of the range, reduction of investment plans and growth of retail prices, especially in the mass segment. According to the association, small and medium-sized businesses account for more than half of the entire confectionery market.

It is possible that the proposals of the business community are dictated by concern for the health of Russians and nothing else. The fact is that according to medical standards, we are supposed to consume no more than 8 kilograms of sugar per year. And we eat at different periods from 28 to 31 kilograms per year. So it's time for us to temper our appetites in order to meet the standards set by the doctors.

However, some experts of the sugar market propose to separate the grain from the chaff and not to attribute the initiatives to change taxes to the business community. They believe that the idea of introducing excise duties on candy and increasing the VAT for sugar from 10% to 22% belongs to officials who want to “easy” to increase revenues to the federal budget.

Recall readers that, according to Rosstat, since the beginning of this year, sugar-sand has added 23.2% in price. In terms of price rise, it is in the first place among other products. On average, one kilogram costs 66-85 rubles. Very expensive chocolates. For example, a two-hundred-gram package of "Bears clubfoot" costs 220 rubles, and the same "Bird's milk" - 270.

Sugar is included in the list of basic socially significant products, explains the head of the Russian Guild of bakers and confectioners Yuri Katsnelson. In my opinion, this list should not be touched. This is because sugar is an export-oriented product. For currency, we sell large volumes of not only sugar, but also a by-product of its production - molasses and pulp. It's a beautiful feed additive. One can imagine that if prices in the domestic market rise, exports will also rise in price. And buyers will refuse Russian supplies in favor of, for example, France or Germany. Do we need this? It is better to invest in the development of high technologies in the sugar-based enzyme industry. This will expand the tax base and give a good effect to the economy.

- What should I do?

On the contrary, it is necessary to stimulate domestic confectioners. Due to the decrease in the purchasing power of the population, the trend for the reduction of expensive products, which is now presented in a wide range, remains. Now even simple gingerbread less than 100 rubles do not cost. We do not want to be in stores like in the 60s of the last century: only dragees and candy "cushions".

- But what do we get from excise taxes on candy?

There will be those who will forge excise stamps. Take the confectionery shop of the district consumer union somewhere in the outback, where three aunts make candy "Cow". Where will they get real excise stamps? Corruption will immediately blossom on this ground.

We need to raise prices for some lobsters or crabs, for premium products. At least ten times. Why would we touch the consumer basket?

If the government approves the initiative, how soon can sugar and candy rise in price?

If figuratively, then before the final decision of the government, two more Suvorov crossings across the Alps. At the nearest Public Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, of course, we will raise this topic. Our opinion is taken into account by the agricultural department. So far, he has not voiced his position on this issue. But it may happen that the government’s proposals for excise duties on candy and higher VAT for sugar will not even reach.