Russia may introduce an excise tax on chips (20% of the cost) and ban its sale to individuals under 18 years old. The head of the Public Council under Rospotrebnadzor addressed the Cabinet of Ministers with such an initiative; the issue will be raised at the next meeting of the council.
According to a WHO study, chips are considered one of the unhealthiest products. Since 2023, the government has already introduced an excise tax on sugar-containing beverages, and since October of the same year, the VAT rate on hamburgers, sandwiches, and cheeseburgers has increased from 10% to 20%.
Along with the excise tax, it is necessary to introduce mandatory certification of this product for continuous monitoring of the content of trans fats in it and to communicate this information to consumers, and restrictions on advertising and promotion of chips to protect consumers from aggressive marketing.
The State Duma of the Russian Federation expressed the opinion that a ban on the sale of chips to minors would not be effective. The idea of introducing excise taxes on them was also considered in parliament in 2016 but was rejected.
