The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) a coalition of non-governmental organisations, advocating for policy measures to tackle the health risks of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, has demanded an immediate implementation of the National Assembly’s motion on sweetened products.
The group who made this call recently while discussing its recent milestones and upcoming plans, also proposed health tax to fund diabetes treatment.
In a statement signed by Omei Bongos-Ikwue on behalf of the NASR Coalition Members, they advocated that the motion will come up with policies to decrease the consumption of sugary products and reduce related risk factors, such as obesity.
According to the NARC, non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are on the rise in Nigeria, owing to consumption of sugary products.
“The WHO attributes 29% of all deaths in Nigeria to NCDs. The link between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and NCDs has been well established.
“Recognizing that the Federal Ministry of Finance has stated the need to explore alternative revenue sources, and that the Federal Ministry of Health considers NCD prevention a national priority, the NASR is stepping up efforts to seek a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages,” NASR stated.
The group recalled that at a recent plenary session of the National Assembly, the House considered a motion to pass a health tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, following the reading of a motion to formulate a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages at the June 8 plenary session.
“The original motion noted that Nigeria is the world’s fourth highest consumer of sugar-sweetened beverages and requested a 5 to 10% excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage the purchase and consumption of these drinks, and the associated health effects.
“The motion also included a proposal to make it mandatory for beverage companies to clearly label soft drink packaging with clear information about the sugar content of the drinks. Clear front-of-package labeling will guide consumer choices. The coalition plans to pursue policies mandating clear front-of-package labeling for sugar-sweetened beverages.
“The Coalition is engaging in further awareness creation efforts to tackle the rising prevalence of NCDs. In addition to ongoing digital advocacy efforts, a recent virtual media roundtable educated journalists on the harmful effects of excessive sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. The roundtable session also explained how SSB taxes work and employed examples from South Africa’s successful health promotion levy,” it added.
It said among its planned activities, would be a collaboration with the Diabetes Association of Nigeria to implement awareness interventions during the annual World Diabetes Day Commemoration in November, with this year’s theme tagged: “Access to Care”.
“The Coalition maintains its policy recommendations to:
1. Introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as part of a multi-pronged approach to tackle the rising rates of NCDs. The Coalition specifically called on the Minister of Finance to introduce an excise duty of 20% on sugar-sweetened beverages such as carbonated sugary drinks and energy drinks.
“2. Create a fund for the prevention and control of NCDs associated with the excessive consumption of sugar-linked diseases such as type II diabetes. Financing for this fund will come from the revenue obtained from the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages.
“3. Ensure that sugar-sweetened beverages carry front-of-packaging labels with nutritional information warning consumers of the product’s sugar content,” the statement added.
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