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Meat taxation could become a reality in 5 to 10 years

A new report from FAIRR suggests that a tax on the meat consumption could be enforced in the near future due to governments effort to comply with health and environmental policies.

Posted on Jan 31 ,12:00

Meat could be the subject of taxation in the next 5 to 10 years according to a report released by FAIRR initiative. Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return (FAIRR) is an initiative that informs and advises investors about the risks and opportunities related to the industrial livestock production sector and the latest report "The Livestock Levy" argues that a tax on meat could be imposed by the governments around the world as they are trying to comply with health and environmental policies.

"On the current pathway, we may well see some form of meat tax emerge within five to 10 years. There are huge opportunities in the market. If we can start replacing meat protein with a plant-based protein that has the same look, taste and feels as meat, where real red-blooded meat eaters are happy to dig into a burger that is plant-based, we are changing the world", considers Maria Lettini, FAIRR director, cited by Big Think magazine.

From one point of view, meat consumption in excess could increase the risk of disease or death and the industrial livestock production is considered to be harmful to the environment. Meat consumption has risen 500% between 1992 and 2016, and the upward trend is likely to continue, according to FAIRR experts.

Many countries have already taken preliminary steps by cautioning the public about the dangers hidden in excessive consumption of animal protein, especially red meat and processed meat. Even China, despite the continuous growth of the meat market, has an updated Dietary Guideline that recommends a reduced consumption of meat to 40 -70 g a day. If applied, the Chinese Dietary Guideline will reduce the annual meat consumption from 64 kg to less than 27 kg per capita.

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