The President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, Thomas Schröder, comments on Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir's plans for a meat tax, which were announced today:
"Finally something is getting moving. We have been calling for a meat tax for a long time. The Borchert Commission has developed a concept for this and the Commission for the Future of Agriculture has supported it. Özdemir should adhere to these recommendations, then a broad social consensus for such a levy can be assumed. According to the Borchert concept, it is about 40 cents per kilogram. For those who eat meat, the animal must be worth an additional four cents per 100 grams of meat. Those who are against it don't care about the animals.
Christian Lindner and the FDP must now show their colors. A speech at the farmers' demonstration will do neither the animals nor the farmers any good. A concept is now on the table that provides farmers with planning security and financial resources and at the same time can advance the urgently needed restructuring of animal husbandry in Germany. If Mr. Lindner refuses to do so, he is risking the future viability of livestock farming in Germany. It is crucial for the implementation of a levy that the additional revenue is not misused to plug budget holes or to compensate for other cuts. Without exception, the additional money must be earmarked for animal welfare progress in order to demonstrably implement more animal welfare. To be specific: If you take the planned state animal husbandry labeling as a benchmark, then more animal welfare only starts at the "fresh air" level. And the money must be used for all animals in agriculture, not just pigs.
Anyone who wants to strengthen climate protection as well as animal welfare would be wise to raise the VAT on meat from seven to 19 percent at the same time as the levy, but reduce the VAT on plant-based food. This would also meet the needs of many concerned social politicians who suspect that the price increase will lead to distortions: There is no human right to meat, but there is a right to food."
