Health Minister urges manufacturers to reformulate non-alcoholic sweetened beverages following reported objection to taxing the product

Manufacturers who have taken issue with the Government’s plan to introduce a Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages are being urged to reformulate the products for consumers by using less sugar.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, gave the encouragement while speaking at the official opening of the Oxford Community Health Centre in St. Mary, yesterday.

It follows reports that the Chairman of a major manufacturing company heavily criticised the proposal.

Dr. Tufton said manufacturers must understand the challenges that the health sector faces due to the consumption of sugary drinks.

The SCT on sugary drinks is among several measures proposed by the Government on Thursday to address the economic fallout from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall last October.

Finance Minister Fayval Williams noted that the tax on sweetened beverages should provide about $10 billion.