Nicosia, Cyprus. The Tax Department announced the implementation of a zero VAT rate on specific categories of meat and fish following a Cabinet decision. The measure will apply from April 6 to September 30, 2026.
Decree and legal basis
The department said the measure is based on a decree published in the Official Gazette, amending the Value Added Tax (VAT) Law to apply a zero rate on deliveries of the specified products during the stated period.
Meat products covered by the zero rate
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. The measure additionally includes meat and edible offal of rabbits and hares.
Fish and seafood covered by the zero rate
The zero rate extends to fresh, chilled, or frozen fish and also applies to cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.
Products remaining at 5% VAT
The department said certain products will continue to be subject to the reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent, including processed meat and fish products. These include 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.
Which of the listed products do you expect to be most affected by the zero VAT rate?
