Seychelles Lifts 25 Percent Tax on Plant-Based Milk

The government of Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands off of East Africa, has removed a 25 percent tax it previously imposed on plant-based milks. To respond to growing public trends and provide healthier alternatives, the Seychelles Ministry of Health has recommended non-dairy milk to those wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle. “Previously there was no category for these health products,” Deputy Cabinet Secretary Margaret Pillay said. “It is [our] duty to keep up with business and consumer trends in order to adjust.” Across the world, dairy sales have continued to decline as consumer habits shift toward plant-based alternatives—an industry Grand View Research predicts will be worth $35 billion by 2024. Earlier this year, industry panelists at a dairy conference in Glasgow predicted the dairy industry will vanish in the next decade due to the success of plant-based dairy alternatives.