The Danish parliament is to vote on a proposal to implement a massive tax on print, with the specific aim of driving it out of business, as it is viewed as environmentally negative. The Danish politicians are being hoodwinked by the green lobby which has convinced them that print is bad for the environment. The vote, slated for January, will propose an initial euro50c (AU70c) levy on each kilo of print, albeit with a 50 per cent discount if it comes with the EU Ecolabel.

Under threat: Danish print

Danish printers believe the tax will decimate the local printing industry. Per Kaae Hansen, senior advisor at the Graphic Association Denmark (their equivalent of the PIAA here) says, “The tax is extremely high. If the law is approved and takes effect we expect it to have serious consequences in the printing industry and the number of employed in the industry.” The vote is almost certain to pass, it has already been approved by the parliament, but has been held up as the EU questioned the exemption given to direct mail sent by the national post office. This exemption has now been deleted, meaning all direct mail will also be taxed. The Danish GA is now frantically trying to lobby against the move; organising a conference in Parliament, commissioning a university to present a factsheet, and writing to MPs, however it may be too little too late. Denmark is believed to be the first country to legislate so brazenly against its own printing industry, but all governments feel the need to appease the green lobby and see print as an easy target while they remain ignorant about the environmental realities of print versus electronic communication.

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