The Ministry of Finance decided yesterday to put a tax refund for companies affected by the widening food scare on hold after news of the measures sparked harsh criticism from the public.
The ministry said companies involved in the food scare would need to file tax rebate applications, but they would not see any money until prosecutors and health regulators clarify who should be held responsible.
The ministry had said companies would be able to get commodity tax, sales tax and business income tax refunds if their products were returned or destroyed upon being found to contain banned chemicals.
OUTRAGE
The announcement sparked outrage among consumers, who said it was the public who were the victims of the food scare, not the companies.
However, the ministry said the tax refund would not particularly benefit these companies because commodity and sales taxes are levied only when products are sold.
As a result, companies would only be entitled to tax refunds if their products are returned by consumers or destroyed, it added.
Nevertheless, the ministry decided to postpone the measure until the results of an investigation into the food scare is complete.
ADDITIVES
Last month, additives contaminated with industrial chemicals were found to have been used by a local company that makes sports drinks and dietary supplements.
Since then, the scandal has mushroomed to include hundreds of products, such as juice, tea, fruit jam and syrup, as well as dietary tablets and powders.
The affected additivies are commonly used to make foods and beverages look more attractive to consumers. One of the ingredients is palm oil, which one local manufacturer substituted with cheaper, but potentially harmful di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP.
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