Martin says introduction of 'fat tax' unlikely

The Minister for Health has said a "fat tax" on fast food and high fat snacks is unlikely to be introduced because of complications associated with competition rules and EU law.

Announcing a National Taskforce on Obesity in Dublin this afternoon, Mr Martin said although taxation matters were a matter for the Minister for Finance, he anticipated difficulties in attempting to impose a tax on such foods.

Mr Martin said the obesity taskforce, chaired by Olympic sliver medalist Mr John Treacy, would focus on preparing a strategy for the prevention, detection and treatment of obesity by the end of the year. His initiative comes as obesity starts to overtake smoking as the single largest preventable cause of death in the US.

Obesity was now "common throughout the island of Ireland" and 20 per cent of Irish children are overweight, he said. The condition was affecting all age-groups and socio-economic groups.

The urgent need to tackle the issue was indicated by the 30 per cent rise in obesity levels in the State over the past four years; Mr Martin said: "As a nation we are becoming progressively heavier."

Among the consequences for not acting were higher rates of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and an obese 40-year-old is likely to die seven years before a comparable person of healthy weight, the Minister said.

Treating obesity-related illnesses now requires 6 per cent of the national healthcare budget, the Minister said.

According to Mr Martin, parents and guardians have a major role to play in changing the activity and diet of overweight children in their care.

"We know that less that half of 15- to17-year-olds take part in regular physical activity and that school children's diet has a higher-than-desirable fat content", said Mr Martin.

He said evidence of a connection between the powerful marketing of high fat, energy-dense snacks and obesity "is not equivocal". However, the Minister said he welcomed a review of marketing of food to children by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

The Minister also repeated his call for the convenience-food sector to continue "downsizing" portions.