The Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) has said that it will challenge the food security tax, created in 2012 by the Government, before the European authorities.
The group's intention was confirmed to local daily Publico by its director general, Ana Isabel Trigo Morais. She added that it are working on the case with the European authorities, although a formal complaint has yet to be submitted.
Since its introduction four years ago, the tax has been challenged by both supermarkets and hypermarkets in court. Despite the controversy, almost all food distribution companies have paid the fee annually, with Pingo Doce being the only exception, claiming that it was 'socially unjust', and would end up impacting end consumers.
The purpose of the measure, created by the previous Portuguese Government, is to fund health checks, including the collection of animal carcasses.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
