Whelehans Pharmacy: VAT rate increase on supplements deferred

VAT increase on Supplements Deferred

(Part 2)

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacies, Pearse St and Clonmore, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

As discussed in last week’s Westmeath Examiner, the VAT rate on food supplements was due to increase from 0% to 23% on March 1^st. The Minister for Finance Paschal Donoghue announced that that he will allow further time for the Government to review this VAT increase, so the VAT increase has been deferred by the Government until 1 November 2019.

Arguments for and against this VAT increase.

Most people see it simply as an additional way of taxing people and for the government to get more revenue.

Some health professionals argue that the Government should not be offering Zero VAT on products that have no clinical data on efficacy and there is some validity to this point. If you have a balanced and healthy diet, there should be no need for extra supplements in most cases. Also, there is some evidence that some people use taking supplements as an excuse not to eat as much fruit and vegetables or follow healthy diet advice as they are of the false belief that supplements substitutes the need to for the likes of fruit and veg.

I mentioned last week, there are certain medical conditions where people need a supplement for medical reasons and thankfully some of these supplements will be exempt from this VAT price increase. This exemption from VAT will include Vitamin D (deficiency very common in Ireland due to lack of sun), Iron (treats anaemia which is common in women), Vitamin B12 Injection (often prescribed by doctors for people suffering from Pernicious Anaemia which is often hereditary vitamin deficiency and also more common in people who follow a Vegan or Vegetarian diet) and Folic Acid (should be taken by pregnant women to prevent spina bifida in the unborn child). However; I do believe some supplements which I see people benefit greatly from such as Omega 3 fish oils and Probiotics are being unfairly targeted by this Tax increase. I have often discussed the benefits of the likes of fish oils and probiotics for certain conditions in my column but like all my advice on supplements, they are never a substitute for a balanced diet. An important supplement which many people must take for their bones to prevent fractures is Calcium. Many people with osteoporosis (also called brittle bone disease) which is one of the most common conditions in women over 60 and a major cause of morbidity and mortality are prescribed calcium to prevent and treat the condition. I can not find any information from Revenue or the government on whether calcium will be affected by this VAT increase; I hope it is not as it is very important vitamin for many and is prescribed to hundreds of thousands of Irish people.

In my opinion the Government know the cost of everything and the value of nothing; this is mainly an attempt to generate more revenue, but it may come back to bite the government in future years due to increased health costs as less people take certain supplements that could benefit them. There will also likely be job losses as many supplements are manufactured in Ireland as well a potential job-losses in Health Food Shops (who will see nearly 100% of their stock go up in price by 23% from November 1^st) and pharmacies who offer food supplement advice and sales to their customers.

I will keep you posted in the coming months in the Westmeath Examiner on the outcome of this Government review of their VAT increase on food supplements and related products.

For health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).