{"id":26670,"date":"2025-07-09T15:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T13:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?post_type=press_release&p=26670"},"modified":"2026-03-02T14:29:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:29:34","slug":"together-for-7-percent-vat-on-plant-based-drinks-too","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/press-releases\/together-for-7-percent-vat-on-plant-based-drinks-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Together for 7 percent VAT on plant-based drinks too"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The food retailer REWE and the manufacturers vly, Berief and Oatly are jointly calling on the German Bundestag to apply the reduced VAT rate of 7 percent to plant-based drinks made from oats, peas, soy, etc. The alliance has launched a petition to this effect on the change org platform. The alliance has launched a petition on the change.org platform calling on the Bundestag to reduce the VAT rate from the current 19 percent to 7 percent. The petition can be signed here: Petition – Together for 7% VAT on plant-based drinks too – Germany – Change.org<\/a>. The alliance hopes for broad public support by sharing the link and signing the petition. #wenigeristfairr<\/p>\n

REWE, vly, Berief, and Oatly believe that the current higher tax rate of 19 percent disadvantages certain consumer groups and contradicts climate, health, and nutrition policy goals\u00b9. Tax equality with other staple foods is therefore objectively necessary and socially just. The partners’ primary concern is to create a level playing field. The tax reduction is to be passed on to consumers by the companies.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We are seeing an increasing demand for plant-based protein sources in our markets. This also applies to plant-based drinks, which are a good supplement or alternative for many consumers. Equal tax treatment with cow’s milk would promote real freedom of choice. We have therefore initiated the petition together with industry partners because it contributes to diverse protein sources, food sovereignty and fair competition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n

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Emilie Bourgoin, Group Director Public Affairs <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Emilie Bourgoin, Group Director Public Affairs <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Five strong reasons in favor of the petition:<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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1. Equal treatment of comparable products<\/h2>\n

The categorization of animal milk as a “staple food” and plant-based drinks as “beverages” is not plausible, as the latter are an important option for people who do not consume animal milk for various reasons. This includes, for example, intolerances, allergies or certain dietary preferences. Equal tax treatment of plant-based drinks and animal milk makes it easier for consumers to make choices according to their personal needs. The sharp rise in demand for plant-based drinks in recent years shows that these products are accepted by the population as a wholesome alternative and are seen as a staple food\u00b2. The higher VAT puts people who consume plant-based drinks at a disadvantage, affects their freedom of choice and makes their access to a staple food relevant to them more expensive.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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2. Ecological Sustainability<\/h2>\n

Adjusting the tax rate would also be a lever for transforming our food system towards greater sustainability. Compared to the production of animal milk, the production of plant-based drinks requires less land and water and leaves a smaller carbon footprint\u00b3. This means that plant-based options can make an important contribution to climate protection and to reducing the environmental impact of our diet.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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3. Economic advantages<\/h2>\n

A reduction in VAT also makes sense from an economic perspective. Although the adjustment would reduce tax revenue, it would also reduce the consequential climate costs. A study by the Institute for Policy Evaluation puts the reduction in tax revenue in one year at around 40 million euros. This is offset by the reduction in future climate impact costs due to lower CO2 emissions of around 62.4 million euros\u2074<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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4. Balanced diet and health benefits<\/h2>\n

Fortified plant-based drinks are a nutrient-rich choice and are listed in official dietary recommendations around the world, for example in Finland and the United Kingdom. Plant-based drinks support a balanced diet. According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), a plant-based diet can be beneficial to the health of adults\u2014taking into account certain aspects such as vitamin B12 supplementation, a balanced and well-planned food selection, and an adequate intake of potentially critical nutrients. The DGE also mentions other health benefits such as low saturated fat content, no cholesterol, and, in some cases, secondary plant substances and fiber\u2077.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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5. European comparison<\/h2>\n

In a European comparison, hardly any other EU country puts plant-based drinks at such a disadvantage in terms of VAT as Germany. France, the Czech Republic and Portugal, for example, apply the same tax rate to cow’s milk and plant-based drinks. Equal tax treatment of animal dairy products and plant-based drinks is not only objectively necessary, but also a step towards a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food policy.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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REWE, vly, Berief and Oatly are therefore calling on people to sign the petition and appeal to the members of the German Bundestag to take the necessary steps to equalize the VAT on plant-based drinks! #lessisfair<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sources<\/h2>\n

\u00b9 (EAT Lancet Commission, 2019, https:\/\/is.gd\/UHyT2w)
\n\u00b2 (BMEL, 2024, https:\/\/is.gd\/3qjUjR)
\n\u00b3 (Joseph Poore, Thomas Nemecek, 2018, https:\/\/is.gd\/UBvcsC)
\n\u2074<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(Institute for Policy Evaluation, 2023, https:\/\/is.gd\/F84ALR)
\n\u2075<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(National Institute for Health & Welfare (THL), 2024, https:\/\/is.gd\/utGw70)
\n\u2076<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(Public Health England, 2016, https:\/\/is.gd\/xlEorm)
\n\u2077<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(DGE, 2024, https:\/\/is.gd\/u3gUmd)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About REWE<\/h2> <\/div>\n
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    With sales of 31.6 billion euros (2024), more than 170.000 employees and over 3,800 REWE stores, REWE Markt GmbH is one of Germany\u2019s leading food retail companies. REWE stores are run as subsidiaries or by independent REWE retailers.<\/p>\n

    The cooperatively organised REWE Group is one of the leading trade and tourism groups in Germany and Europe. In 2024, the company generated a total external turnover of around 96.1 billion euros. Founded in 1927, the REWE Group has around 380,000 employees and operates in 21 European countries.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    \n \"frauke-weber\"\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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    Contact<\/h2>

    \n Frauke Weber <\/p>\n\n

    Spokesperson <\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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      Join the discussion on <\/h2>\n
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      Our LinkedIn feed has all the latest information from the REWE Group and the sector, with the most important developments from the worlds of retail, e-commerce, food, CSR and policy.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

      \n \n To LinkedIn feed <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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      REWE, vly, Berief and Oatly launch joint petition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":25066,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"sales_line":[15],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-26670","press_release","type-press_release","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company","sales_line-rewe","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release\/26670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press_release"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release\/26670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27630,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release\/26670\/revisions\/27630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26670"},{"taxonomy":"sales_line","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sales_line?post=26670"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=26670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}