The Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan has proposed reforms to the national excise tax system targeting sugar-sweetened beverages and foods with high salt content, aiming to reduce consumption of unhealthy products and improve public health outcomes. The proposal was presented during a meeting involving representatives from several government agencies and international organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNICEF, as well as major business associations.
Currently, Kyrgyzstan applies a uniform excise tax of 3 soms per liter (approximately USD 0.03) on sugar-sweetened non-alcoholic beverages, regardless of the sugar content of the drink. The Ministry of Health is proposing to replace this system with a differentiated tax structure that varies according to the sugar concentration in beverages.
Under the proposed framework, beverages would be taxed at increasing rates depending on their sugar content per 100 milliliters:
Up to 5 g of sugar per 100 ml – 5 soms per liter
5–8 g per 100 ml – 7 soms per liter
8–11 g per 100 ml – 9 soms per liter
More than 11 g per 100 ml – 11 soms per liter
Health officials indicated that the tiered tax system is intended to encourage beverage manufacturers to reformulate products with lower sugar content, while also guiding consumers toward healthier beverage choices. By linking tax rates directly to sugar concentration, the policy seeks to reduce the consumption of high-sugar drinks and support broader national strategies to combat diet-related health risks.
The proposal was discussed in coordination with representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Trade, Ministry of Finance, State Tax Service, and Ministry of Agriculture, reflecting a cross-government effort to evaluate fiscal and public health measures. If adopted, the reform would represent a shift toward nutrition-oriented taxation policies designed to influence both product formulation and consumer behavior.