Can you believe that the traditional Sonho de Valsa chocolate is no longer a bonbon? The product now has another name and you will find out here its new nomenclature and the reasons for the change.
The candy underwent a tax category reclassification and a packaging change. Everything happened, because Lacta chose to change one of the most popular products in Brazil, to possibly generate tax savings.
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Despite being an unusual change that you probably haven't noticed, the practice is a way for companies to save a lot of money. In addition, the same decision has already been taken by other food companies, such as McDonald's.
The multinational Mondelez International, owner of Lacta, changed the classification of the product in Brazil and, now, no longer pays tax. In other words, Sonho de Valsa is now considered a “wafer biscuit” and the reason for the change is a question of tax classification.
After 85 years of manufacture, the chocolate underwent changes, receiving a sealed package to belong to the category of “Bakery, Pastry or Biscuit Industry Products”.
First, the justification of the company Mondelez is that the change was made due to technical issues of the product and in accordance with the rules of Anvisa. However, it is notable that the reclassification also generated considerable savings in tax rates.
In the bonbon classification, Sonho de Valsa generated a cost of 3.25% in taxes, an amount that reached 5% in 2022. In the new classification, the cost in rate is zero, making the product exempt from the IPI (Tax on Industrialized Products).
As we said, the tax practice in the food sector is nothing new. McDonald's changed the classification of ice cream to "dessert" and managed to be exempt from tax on that product. Before, costs were very high, which increased the transfer of expenses to the amount paid by the final consumer, according to the company.
The maker of Garoto chocolates also took advantage of the tax loophole to save money with Serenata de Amor. The companies reported that the products have not undergone changes in composition, ingredients or production process.
With this simple change, companies stopped paying taxes such as: ICMS, PIS and IPI. Tax amounts vary according to the location and model of the company.
