German politicians are considering adding a 19 percent meat tax to raise money for animal welfare causes. 

Currently meat is not subject to a standard 19 percent tax placed on many food and drink products, including oat milk. 

But the Social Democratic party along with the Greens want to introduce a tax and use the money raised for protection to animals. 

Friedrich Ostendorff, a spokesperson for the agriculture sector of Germany’s Alliance 90/The Greens political party, told German newspaper Die Welt: “I favor abolishing the VAT reduction for meat and using it instead for more animal welfare.”

Meat is currently taxed at just seven percent in Germany, but many politicians and activists argue this is inappropriate given its ethical and environmental impact.

Thomas Schröder, president of organization German Animal Welfare Federation, added: “Parallel to the CO2 tax, we also need a meat tax.”

A tax would aim to reduce the country’s carbon footprint – as meat is one of the biggest drivers of global warming. 

Christian Democratic (CDU) agricultural politician Albert Stegemann described the tax as ‘constructive’, but said the money should go back to the livestock industry.

“This additional income would have to be used as an animal welfare premium in order to support the livestock farmers in Germany during their restructuring,” he told The Local.

“The road to socially sustainable livestock farming would cost billions of euros, which farmers in Germany would not be able to bear alone.”

Farming industry leaders have spoken out against the tax. Bernhard Krüsken, General Secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, said: “It is not the tax authorities but farmers who need funds and support for the further development of animal husbandry.”

• Read: German circus rejects cruelty by replacing animals with holograms

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