Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration is being given to VAT rating herbal teas, vitamins and food supplements at 23%; if so the reason this is being considered in view of the beneficial health effects of these products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25084/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that EU VAT Directive (Council Directive 2006/112/EC) generally provides that supplies of goods and services are chargeable to VAT at the standard rate but that lower rates are permitted in very limited circumstances.  Food products can only benefit from the zero rating in accordance with Article 110 of the VAT Directive which permits the retention of the zero rate for "clearly defined social reasons" where the products were liable to VAT at the zero rate on and from 1 January 1991.

A range of food supplements and vitamins that encourage the maintenance of health, through the sustenance derived from a normal, healthy diet, benefit from the zero rate.  However, a food supplement taken for the purposes of muscle growth or body mass increase, or for the purposes of weight reduction or bodily sculpture, cannot benefit from the zero rate.  I would draw the Deputy's attention to Revenue eBrief 70/2011 which contains additional detail in relation to the VAT rates of vitamins and food supplements.

I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners that paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 provides that the supply of tea and preparations derived from the crushed leaves of the tea plant when supplied in non-drinkable form is liable to VAT at the zero rate.  The VAT applicable to herbal teas derived from plants other than the tea plant has been raised with me by the industry and the matter is subject to ongoing analysis.