France votes to extend soda tax to biscuits, pastries and sweets

French deputies have backed extending the country’s levy on sugary drinks to a wider range of packaged foods, with a progressive tax proposed from 2027.

France is moving towards a broader tax on sugary packaged foods, with deputies in the National Assembly backing an extension of the existing “soda tax” to pastries, biscuits, breakfast cereals and confectionery. According to BFM, the measure was approved in committee on 14 October as part of the 2027 social security financing bill, a step that keeps the proposal alive as lawmakers seek new ways to curb sugar consumption and support public health.

The plan would shift the levy beyond drinks and into the snack aisle, with a progressive rate tied to sugar content. As reported by LCP, the proposal is designed to push manufacturers to alter recipes and reduce the amount of sugar in pre-packaged products, rather than simply raise money. The tax is currently expected to bring in about €200 million a year, and the draft timetable points to 1 January 2027 for implementation if Parliament gives its final approval.

The committee vote exposed familiar political divisions. Reuters-style reporting from French media outlets said National Rally, its ally the UDR and conservatives from Les Républicains tried unsuccessfully to remove the clause, arguing that it would mainly push up prices without delivering clear health benefits. At the same time, deputies backed a MoDem amendment widening the scope of the levy to all ultra-processed sugary products, while also carving out an exemption for artisans and small food businesses.

Industry groups have reacted sharply. Jean-François Loiseau, who heads France’s food industry association Ania, has warned that the measure would once again hit household purchasing power. France 2 quoted him as saying: “C’est le consommateur qui en paye le prix”. The debate comes against a broader backdrop of concern over sugar intake, with the commerce minister, Serge Papin, arguing that a nine-year-old child now consumes as much sugar in a year as a grandparent once would across a lifetime.

The proposal also builds on an existing levy on sweetened drinks, which the government says raised around €800 million in 2025. At the same time, France’s health insurance system had already been pressing for a wider tax on foods high in fat, salt, sugar and ultra-processing, suggesting that the current measure is part of a longer policy push rather than an isolated budget fix. Separately, the government is considering other savings in the 2027 budget, including a higher compulsory contribution for some vocational training paid through the personal training account, known as the CPF.