Table 1 Food policy recommendations for Tonga and implementation status as of 2016
OPIC Policy Recommendation 2011 | Rationale | Implementation status |
|---|---|---|
Import duties | Levied on goods from foreign countries | |
Increase import duty from 0 to 15% for sugar | Reduce sugar intake | |
Increase import duty from 0 to 15% for butter | Replacement with healthier fats | |
Reduce import duty on fresh & frozen vegetables to 0% | Increase vegetable intake | |
Reduce import duty on fresh fruits to 0% | Increase fruit intake | |
Reduce import duty on tinned fish and seafood to 10% (fresh/frozen only those not caught locally) | Increase fish intake | Reduced from 20 to 5% in 2013 |
Reduce import duty tinned fish and seafood to 0% | Increase fish intake | |
Reduce import duty tinned fish to 0% | Increase fish intake | |
Reintroduce 15% import duty for high-fat meat and poultry (mutton flaps and turkey tails) | Replacement of high-fat meats with leaner meats | |
Reduce import duty from 15 to 0% for margarine | Replacement of less healthy spreads | |
Increase import duty corned beef/mutton from 0 to 15% | Replacement high-fat meats with leaner meats | |
Excise duties | Levied on domestic goods | |
Introduce 15% excise duty for soft drinks (all sweetened drinks including milk) | Reduce intake of soft drinks | Increased to $0.50/L in 2013 and $1/L in 2016 |
Introduce 30% excise duty for confectionary | Reduce confectionary intake | |
Introduce excise duty of 15% for dripping and other animal fats | Replacement with healthier fats | Increased from 15% to $1/kg in 2013 and $2/kg in 2016 |
Introduce 15% excise duty for high fat meat/poultry | Replacement high-fat meats with leaner meats | A 40c/kg duty was introduced in 2016 |
Introduce 15% excise duty for corned beef/mutton | Replacement high-fat meats with leaner meats | |
Introduce 15% excise duty for mutton flaps | Replacement high-fat meats with leaner meats | A 15% import duty was introduced in 2016 |
Introduce 50% excise duty for turkey tails | Replacement high-fat meats with leaner meats | A $1.50/kg duty was introduced in 2016 |
Food regulations | Protect health and safety | |
Mandatory government workplace food policy | Healthier diets amongst government employees (increase fruit and vegetables) | |
Removing license requirement for roadside vendors selling local fresh produce (uncooked, unprocessed) (to increase number of vendors) | Increase fish, fruit and vegetable intake | |
Sales ban on high-fat meats | Replacement with lower-fat meats | |
Regulation that processed meats sold contain no more than 20% fat | Replacement with lower-fat meats | |
Price controls | Used to manage affordability of goods | |
Add imported seafood to price control list | Increase fish intake | |
Introduction of price control for bottled water | Reduce intake of soft drinks | |
Imported fruits to be added to price control system | Increase fruit intake | |
Add tinned fish to price control list | Increase fish intake | |
Imported vegetables to be added to price control system | Increase vegetable intake | |
Remove dripping from price control list | Replacement with healthier fats | |
Remove unhealthy oils from price control list | Replacement with healthier oils | |
Price control healthier meats | Replacement of higher-fat meats with healthier ones | |
Remove cheese from price control list | Decrease cheese intake, replacement with lean meat or fish |