Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH – Saudi government agencies have launched an initiative, in cooperation with private food companies, to promote the marketing of healthy food products among children. The initiative will also discourage the sale of products with a high content of sugar, salt and fat to children.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from sources that the initiative will encourage private food companies to concentrate on producing healthy food and foodstuffs that contribute to promoting public health.

This initiative coincides with a similar one launched by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) that calls for voluntary commitment from the part of food companies to improve the nutritional value of food products.

As of June 2017 the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority started imposing selective taxes of 50 percent on soft drinks, and 100 percent on energy drinks and tobacco products to discourage their consumption.

The authority also imposed a 50 percent tax on sweetened beverages and 100 percent tax on smoking devices and liquids mixed in them effective from December 2019. These taxes are aimed at reducing the consumption of goods that are harmful to society, the authority said.