The tax on candy in particular had caused controversy, as it was not applied to candy that contained flour, meaning that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Three Musketeers, for example, were subject to the tax, while Kit Kat and Milky Way bars were exempt. It came into effect on June 1, as part of the state's effort to plug its budget deficit.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) and its members in the Washington State Confectionery Coalition welcomed the news, having collected nearly 400,000 signatures to put the repeal on this month's ballot.
NCA president Larry Graham said in a statement that the coalition's work was a model for confectioners in other states to follow.
"NCA and its members sent a clear message to public officials in Washington and beyond that it is not acceptable to avoid making hard but necessary budgetary choices by instituting taxes that discriminate against certain business and burden all consumers," he said.
Washington State Repeals Candy Tax
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By Caroline Scott-Thomas
Food Navigator, November 5, 2010
Straight to the Source
