The Tax Department has announced the implementation of a zero VAT rate on specific categories of meat and fish, following a decision by the Cabinet.

The department stated that the measure is based on a decree published in the Official Gazette, which amends the Value Added Tax (VAT) Law to apply a zero rate on deliveries of these products from April 6 to September 30, 2026.

The reduced rate applies to fresh, chilled, or frozen meats, including beef, pork, and sheep or goat meat.

It also covers edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, as well as meat and edible offal of poultry.

In addition, the measure includes meat and edible offal of rabbits and hares.

The zero rate further extends to fresh, chilled, or frozen fish, while it also applies to cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.

The department clarified that certain products will continue to be subject to the reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent, including processed meat and fish products.

These include items such as marinated meats, smoked products, wine-based preparations, sheftalies, burgers, chicken nuggets, sausages, lountza, roasts, gyros, corned beef, as well as canned fish, smoked fish, marinated fish, and breaded products.