As part of this discussion, representatives from various agencies, including the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, the State Tax Service, as well as business associations and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, participated.
The proposal from the Ministry of Health concerns changing the existing excise mechanism on sugar-containing beverages and certain salty products.
Currently, a fixed excise tax of 3 soms per liter applies to all sugar-containing beverages, regardless of their actual sugar content. The new initiative proposes the introduction of a differentiated excise tax system based on the sugar level in the beverages.
Under the proposed model, the excise tax will be calculated according to the following scale:
- up to 5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters — 5 soms per liter;
- 5–8 grams — 7 soms per liter;
- 8–11 grams — 9 soms per liter;
- more than 11 grams — 11 soms per liter.
This approach is intended to encourage producers to reduce the sugar content in their products and promote healthier habits among consumers, according to the Ministry of Health.
Additionally, it is proposed to establish a fixed excise tax on energy drinks at 20 soms per liter, considering their high sugar and caffeine content, which negatively affects the health of adolescents.
A similar scheme is proposed for products with high salt content, such as chips and snacks.
This initiative is part of a long-term government strategy to improve public health and reduce the level of non-communicable diseases, the Ministry of Health reported.
It is worth noting that about 9% of children in Kyrgyzstan suffer from overweight, 75% of toddlers prefer unhealthy food, 78% regularly consume sweet drinks, and 16% do not receive enough vegetables and fruits each day.
