Eosta chief executive Volkert Engelsmann presents Dutch government with petition calling for removal of sales tax

One of the Netherlands’ leading fresh produce importers has called on the Dutch government to abandon its plan to increase value-added tax on organic food and instead remove the charge altogether.

On behalf of 80,000 concerned citizens and 150 health food stores, Volkert Engelsman of Eosta/Nature & More handed over a petition demanding ‘No VAT on organic’ to the Dutch parliament.

“Consumers who buy organic products are saving the government and tax payers money,” he commented. “By lowering the VAT on organic, the government will create a more level playing field and encourage sustainable production.”

The petition invites the government to lower VAT on organic food to 0 per cent by the start of 2019 – instead of increasing it from 6 per cent to 9 per cent, as is the current plan.