The French government is considering introducing a tax on sugary products as part of the 2027 budget, announced Minister of Commerce, SMEs, and purchasing power Serge Papin on Wednesday. The tax would target certain processed products above an unspecified sugar threshold, according to reports. The government expects to generate 200 million euros in revenue through this tax, which corresponds to the amount estimated by deputies from Horizons and EPR in an amendment on the same topic submitted last autumn. The tax would apply to several categories of sweetened processed products, including biscuits, spreads, breakfast cereals, and other supermarket items. Part of the food industry sector is strongly opposed to the proposal, including Jean-François Loiseau, president of the National Association of Food Industries (Ania). He argued that the tax would ultimately be passed on to consumers, increasing prices and reducing purchasing power. Serge Papin stated he is not in favor of taxes but emphasized the "health challenge" due to rising obesity and diabetes rates. He noted that a 9-year-old child today consumes as much sugar as his grandfather who lived a whole life. An incentive-based food tax already exists, limited to sweetened beverages containing added sugars, which generated approximately 800 million euros in 2025, according to a report by the Social Affairs Commission published in June 2026. In a 2025 report aimed at informing budget debates, the Health Insurance recommended "the implementation of a specific tax on excessively fatty, salty, sweet, and ultra-processed products." The idea of a tax on added sugars in food products for infants and children aged one to three years was previously proposed but rejected in 2025. The tax is expected to be included in the 2027 Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) that the government will present to Parliament on Thursday, October 1. The outlines of this new tax are not yet well defined, but the proposed system would be based on a scale setting a threshold for sugar content beyond which companies would be taxed. Some amendments suggested three tax levels according to the amount of added sugars: 4 euros per quintal under 5%, 21 euros per quintal between 5% and 8%, and 35 euros per quintal above 8%. Another proposal targeted solid or semi-solid ultra-processed sugary products with taxation starting at 23% of added sugars. Ania warned that the tax could create additional pressure on companies, with potential consequences on employment, agricultural outlets, and, in the long run, imports. The impact of the tax, whether on consumers or companies, will depend on the products concerned, the amount of added sugar retained, and the level of taxation.