Pork’s VAT cut: fair play by OKSZ members

From 1 January 2016 the VAT on pork became 5 percent instead of the former 27 percent. In the first month the members of the National Trade Association (OKSZ) – all major retail chains – sold pork to customers at 17.3 percent lower prices, some of them even reduced prices more.

Demand for pork is growing and sales are rising, so the VAT cut definitely needs to be continued, otherwise the lower pork VAT will have a negative influence on the sales of other meat types.

In 2015 volume sales in retail expanded by 5-6 percent. Measures such as the introduction of online cash registers and lower motor fuel prices contributed to better sales results. Negative influences included the reduction in the number of small shops: according to the Central Statistical. Retail volume sales are expected to increase by 3-4 percent in 2016.