Agriculture Minister Francesco
Lollobrigida said on Tuesday that he wanted to lower the
value-added tax (VAT) rate on oysters to enable more people to
buy the product.
The agriculture minister said the "objective is to lower the VAT
on oysters to counteract prices and put as many consumers as
possible in the position of affording this product, which must
not be a luxury.
Lollobrigida added that oysters are a "healthy product that
comes from the precious work of fish farmers" and can "create
wealth", speaking at an oyster tasting event at the Senate.
"In this way, we will save fishermen hit by the blue crab", said
Lollobrigida, referring to the emergency created by the arrival
of the alien clam-eating blue crab species in the Po River
delta.
The crabs have wreaked havoc on the clam-farming industries of
Veneto and Emilia-Romagna.
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