THE government is working on amending taxes, fees and levies applied to fish imports. Hamad Hassan Chande, the Finance deputy minister, made his announcement in the National Assembly when responding to Jacqueline Ngonyani (Special Seats) who inquired about government plans concerning taxes and levies on imported fish.

Asserting that the changes are intended to protect local traders and consumers while enhancing productivity in the value addition, he hinted at an ongoing process to move in that direction.

The Tax System Reform Committee is currently reviewing proposals submitted by stakeholders regarding improvements to tax schedules, fees and levies framework, where the issue of fish imports comes up as well, he said.

Once all proposals have been reviewed and compiled, they will be submitted to the legislature for discussion and modification as demanded before set out in law for application, he explained.

The committee is also conducting a thorough market assessment on consumer behaviour, demand trends, cost implications and revenue impact, taking into account the need to safeguard local consumers and traders, he specified.

Boosting value-added contributions to the broader economy is essential, where decisions and recommendations regarding the reduction of taxes and levies on imported fish will be based on the findings of the comprehensive assessment, he added.