GENEVA: An independent panel advising the World Health Organisation (WHO) stopped short of recommending taxing sugary drinks on Friday after failing to reach a consensus.
The UN agency said it would pursue the fight against child obesity and diabetes, but activists had hoped for a strong endorsement for a tax to discourage consumption of sweetened beverages.
Some countries, such as Mexico, France and Britain, are already taxing sugary drinks and the WHO made a non-binding recommendation in October 2016 that governments should impose a 20 per cent tax.
Sania Nishtar, a former Pakistani health minister who co-chaired the panel, declined to give details of how its 21 members — who include heads of states and health ministers — voted. However, she said some of the evidence in favour of a tax had been queried.
Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2018
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