www.soltimes.com
SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013
IVA on medication, veterinary and healthcare equipment ‘too low’, says EU
Reduced-rate value-added tax on certain medication, medical equipment and veterinary supplies is ‘illegal’, claims the European Commission. Medicines, healthcare products and materials that may be use to prevent, diagnose, treat, relieve or cure illnesses should attract IVA at the full rate of 21 per cent, and not the ‘middle’ rate of 10 per cent, according to an EU ruling from 2010. The higher-rate IVA is not applied to items used for relieving or treating inherent deficiencies, or for purely personal use or employed solely for the permanently disabled. This means veterinary treatment equipment and medication should also be taxed at 21 per cent, because ‘personal use’, ‘use by the disabled’ or ‘pharmaceutical products’ are definitions that can only be applied to humans rather than animals, according to the Commission. Items exempt from higher-rate IVA for use by persons include needles, blood-pressure reading machines, latex gloves, masks, disposable caps, gowns or socks, gauze, plasters, thermometers or ‘white coats’. Spain’s government has been ordered to increase IVA on non-exempt items with immediate effect and to pay the costs of the European court investigation. If it does not do, large fines will be imposed. This means healthcare costs for the State will rise dramatically, and pet-owners could face much larger vet bills.
Animal rescue volunteer killed by tram A 70 year oldwoman lost her life yesterday morning after being hit by the AlicanteBenidorm tram. The victim was standing on the boarding ramp near the pavement, reportedly in the path of the vehicle, in El Campello (Alicante). Despite the driver having warned that a pedestrian was in the way, slowing down as much as she could and blasting her horn, she was unable to avoid the impact at the Salesianos tram stop. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but all attempts to revive the woman failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim, who has not been named, is said to be very well-known in El Campello for her animal rescue work and her connections with local dogs’ homes.
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