Say No to Tax on the Great British Roast!

Fowl tax is unfair on industry and families says retail and farming coalition.

A new campaign launched today unites industry and consumers to fight Government plans to tax the Great British Roast.

On 1 October, current Government proposals to add VAT to the sale of whole rotisserie chickens will come into force. The British Poultry Council (BPC) and retailer Morrisons believe this is an unfair tax that will hit budget conscious shoppers who use rotisserie chickens in their family meals. With rotisserie chickens sold in shops across the UK forming the basis of traditional Sunday dinners, the organisations have joined forces to help people tell Government “Don’t Tax Our Roast”.

From today, people can sign a nationwide petition against the tax by text, online, or by using a freepost reply card obtained at rotisserie chicken counters at Morrisons stores.  Signage and customer information at Morrisons rotisserie chicken counters will also be used to raise awareness of the impact of the new tax, commonly associated with pasties, on rotisserie chickens.

The tax will be introduced through proposals unveiled in the March budget to add VAT to all food that is sold hot, classifying it as a take-away food.  But research shows that people do not purchase a whole rotisserie chicken to eat in the same way as they would a take-away meal.  More than four in every five Morrisons shoppers instead purchase their rotisserie chicken to eat later and after adding other foods such as potatoes or vegetables to make a main meal, like the traditional Sunday Roast.

To address similar anomalies created by the tax, the proposals were previously revised to allow hot food left on the shelf to cool down to have a 0% VAT rate.  Whilst this has addressed issues with some foods, such as pasties and pies, it has not solved the problem for rotisserie chickens which, for food safety reasons, cannot be left to cool down for a prolonged period in the same way.

The British Poultry Council represents poultry suppliers across the UK who are backing this campaign, including Moy Park and Cargill who supply Morrisons.

To join the petition, visit www.donttaxourroast.co.uk or text CHICKEN FIRSTNAME SURNAME TO 88802 (texts will be charged at your standard network rate)