Petaling Jaya: The Malaysian government should encourage healthier food and beverage producers by increasing tax incentives to boost its efforts to reduce sugar consumption among people, said experts, reports Free Malaysia Today.
The government’s strategic plan to cut sugar consumption should include tax reduction for companies that produce healthier products, said Tee E Siong, President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia.
The health ministry’s plan should encourage the production of healthy food and the consumption of vegetables, whole grains and fruits, he said.
“The government’s programme should include non-processed items sold at eateries, including hawker stalls and restaurants apart from the focus on pre-packaged and processed food and beverages,” Tee added.
The government should offer tax rebates to the food and beverage operators that abide by the health ministry’s regulations, said Mary Easaw, a consultant dietitian with Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur.
The government should continue with the sugar excise duty implemented in 2019 and closely monitor it, she said.
Government should issue strict guidelines for school canteens that forbid the sale of confectionaries, soft drinks and other sugary beverages, said Winnie Chee, president of the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association.
