A zero VAT rate will apply to meat starting October 1, 2026, and as of October 12, the measure will be extended to bread, milk, baby food, coffee, and sugar, according to an announcement by the Department of Taxation.
The regulation is set forth in a Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and amends the Value-Added Tax Law, following a relevant decision by the Council of Ministers.
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Specifically, from October 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, the zero VAT rate applies as follows:
1. Meat, fresh, chilled, or frozen
(1) Beef (HS codes 0201 and 0202)
(2) Swine meat (HS codes 0203)
(3) Meat of sheep or goats (HS codes 0204)
(4) Edible offal of bovine animals, swine, sheep, and goats (HS codes under heading ex 0206)
(5) Meat and edible offal of poultry of heading 0105 (HS codes of heading 0207)
(6) Meat and edible offal of rabbits and hares (HS codes ex 0208)
The Tax Department notes that meat preparations, such as marinated meats, smoked meats, and wines, siefta, beef patties, chicken nuggets, sausages, lountzes, rosta, gyros, polipif, pana, etc.
At the same time, it should be noted that fish products, such as canned fish, smoked fish, marinated fish, fish fillets, etc.
Furthermore, the Tax Department states that from October 12, 2026, through May 31, 2027, the zero VAT rate applies as follows:
1. Bread: all types of fresh or frozen bread, with or without yeast (e.g., white, brown, whole-grain, multigrain, country-style, rye, cornbread, baguettes, ciabatta, sliced bread, rolls, pitas). This does not include pastries, dried bread, or any bread containing added ingredients such as raisins, nuts, or spices.
2. Milk: fresh milk (e.g., cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s), sweetened, condensed, long-life, flavored milk (e.g., chocolate, banana), plant-based milk (e.g., almond, soy, rice).
3. Coffee: unroasted, roasted beans, ground, powdered, instant coffee, flavored coffee, caffeinated or decaffeinated in any packaging. (This does not include ready-to-drink beverages or drinks made primarily from coffee that are consumed cold or hot.)
4. Sugar: granulated (white, brown, black), powdered, coarse, in cubes, in packets.
5. Baby food: in powder, dry, and/or liquid form, intended for consumption by children. Snacks are not included (e.g., chips, nuts, candies, chocolates, ice cream, yogurt cups).
Source: KYPE
