Overview

• The National Assembly initially rejected but later passed a reform of the 'soda tax,' reducing tax brackets from sixteen to three to curb sugar content in beverages.
• An additional amendment, led by ecologist Sabrina Sebaihi, imposes a tax on added sugars in processed foods, excluding sugary drinks.
• These measures aim to combat rising obesity and diabetes rates in France, with obesity affecting over 14% of the population by 2017.
• Despite government backing, the amendments may face challenges in the Senate or could be overridden if the government invokes Article 49.3 to pass the budget.
• Industrial food producers are also required to display Nutri-Score ratings in advertisements, with penalties for non-compliance.