§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what other European countries are subject to a pesticide tax; and at what levels. [92222]
§ Mr. RookerI understand that, currently, Denmark, Sweden and Norway tax all pesticides, while Belgium applies a tax to non-agricultural uses of the herbicides atrazine, diuron, isoproturon, simazine and pentachlorophenol. The latest rate of tax in each country is understood to be as follows:
Denmark
- ad valorum tax on highest retail value:
- insecticide: 54 per cent.
- herbicide: 33 per cent.
- Non-agricultural use: 3 per cent.
Sweden
- 20 Swedish hone (about £1.50) per kg active ingredient
Norway
663Wbasic rate = 15 Norwegian hone (about £1.20) per ha—varied according to banding:Seed treatment pesticides and biological products—basic rate x 0.5Products constituting low risk to health and environment—basic rate x 1.0Products constituting high risk to health/low risk to environment or, low risk to health and high risk to environment—basic rate x 4.0Products of high risk to health and to environment—basic rate x 8.0There are higher rates pro-rata for household use.Belgium 1999
- 10,000 Belgian francs (about £160) per kg of active ingredient.
I am not aware of specific pesticide taxes in other European countries.