Brazil's national food basket to consist of 15 zero-taxed products

Fifteen fresh or lightly industrially processed foods will form part of the national basic food basket and will be zero-taxed as part of tax reform. This is reported by RedeTV!, a partner of TV BRICS.

A supplementary bill governing the issue, sent to Congress, also includes 14 products with the rate reduced by 60 per cent.

In the justification of the bill, the government stated that fresh or "minimally processed" foods were the basis for determining the national basic food basket. The text emphasises that the government follows the recommendations for a healthy and nutritious diet from the Brazilian federal Ministry of Health.

These foods are essential in the diet of Brazilians and are already part of the traditional basic food basket. Here are some of them:

• Rice;

• beans;

• milk and infant formula;

• butter;

• coffee;

• soya oil;

• maize meal, maize groats and flour, crushed or flaked maize kernels;

• wheat flour;

• sugar;

• pasta products.

The government of Brazil chose healthy products or products consumed by the poorest.

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